Skyscapers and greenery. An unprecedented symbiosis

An appropriate use of natural resources, combined with the choice of innovative materials and the reduction of the consumption of non-renewable sources, increasingly contribute to the sustainability of skyscrapers. Italy has also witnessed the growing custom of including green elements in tall buil...

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Main Authors: Simona Talenti, Annarita Teodosio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Palermo University Press 2022-06-01
Series:Agathón
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.agathon.it/agathon/article/view/294
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author Simona Talenti
Annarita Teodosio
author_facet Simona Talenti
Annarita Teodosio
author_sort Simona Talenti
collection DOAJ
description An appropriate use of natural resources, combined with the choice of innovative materials and the reduction of the consumption of non-renewable sources, increasingly contribute to the sustainability of skyscrapers. Italy has also witnessed the growing custom of including green elements in tall buildings, in the envelopes, at the bases, sides or interiors. The use of vegetation not only concerns new constructions, but also the redevelopment of existing towers, sometimes offering a chance even to buildings that originally lack significant value. Greenery applied to Italian skyscrapers, however, should raise questions about the actual environmental, economic and social sustainability of these design solutions, which sometimes seem to respond to mere aesthetic and ornamental requirements or marketing demands. Through the analysis of certain Italian skyscrapers characterized by the presence of greenery, this study aims to underline the potential and the importance of the use of vegetation in the tall building, an architectural type historically in contrast with natural elements, triggering a reflection on intervention criteria susceptible of application also at wider and more differentiated scales.
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spelling doaj.art-900debd7085148138e8d238d8d2b34192022-12-22T03:37:22ZengPalermo University PressAgathón2464-93092532-683X2022-06-0111online10.19229/2464-9309/1182022Skyscapers and greenery. An unprecedented symbiosisSimona Talenti0Annarita Teodosio1University of Salerno (Italy)University of Salerno (Italy) An appropriate use of natural resources, combined with the choice of innovative materials and the reduction of the consumption of non-renewable sources, increasingly contribute to the sustainability of skyscrapers. Italy has also witnessed the growing custom of including green elements in tall buildings, in the envelopes, at the bases, sides or interiors. The use of vegetation not only concerns new constructions, but also the redevelopment of existing towers, sometimes offering a chance even to buildings that originally lack significant value. Greenery applied to Italian skyscrapers, however, should raise questions about the actual environmental, economic and social sustainability of these design solutions, which sometimes seem to respond to mere aesthetic and ornamental requirements or marketing demands. Through the analysis of certain Italian skyscrapers characterized by the presence of greenery, this study aims to underline the potential and the importance of the use of vegetation in the tall building, an architectural type historically in contrast with natural elements, triggering a reflection on intervention criteria susceptible of application also at wider and more differentiated scales. http://www.agathon.it/agathon/article/view/294Italian skyscraperssustainabilityvegetationgreen wallroof garden
spellingShingle Simona Talenti
Annarita Teodosio
Skyscapers and greenery. An unprecedented symbiosis
Agathón
Italian skyscrapers
sustainability
vegetation
green wall
roof garden
title Skyscapers and greenery. An unprecedented symbiosis
title_full Skyscapers and greenery. An unprecedented symbiosis
title_fullStr Skyscapers and greenery. An unprecedented symbiosis
title_full_unstemmed Skyscapers and greenery. An unprecedented symbiosis
title_short Skyscapers and greenery. An unprecedented symbiosis
title_sort skyscapers and greenery an unprecedented symbiosis
topic Italian skyscrapers
sustainability
vegetation
green wall
roof garden
url http://www.agathon.it/agathon/article/view/294
work_keys_str_mv AT simonatalenti skyscapersandgreeneryanunprecedentedsymbiosis
AT annaritateodosio skyscapersandgreeneryanunprecedentedsymbiosis