Imagine looking out from your 18th floor apartment in the middle of the city and seeing trees right in front of you. In an effort to stem climate change, reduce pollution, combat heat, and protect biodiversity, architects are teaming up with botanists, urban wildlife ecologists, and other scientists to design high-rise forests, living walls, and vertical farms in some of the world’s most populated places. These projects are happening all around the world, and they will not only change the urban landscape, but they will provide urban dwellers with a healthier place to live and work.
For Buildings That Breathe, author and environmental journalist Nancy Castaldo connected with architect Stefano Boeri at the World Forum on Urban Forests and was invited to his office in Milan where she visited Bosco Verticale, the first high-rise forest. Planted with 750 trees, 5,000 shrubs, and 11 perennials on two apartment towers, the project provides an urban habitat for birds, insects, and people while creating a micro-climate that produces oxygen and provides shade for high-rise residents. Explore Bosco Verticale, as well the planned Liuzhou Forest City in China and other green architecture projects around the world, looking at how people are working together to change the urban landscape of the future.
Glossary. Source notes. Selected bibliography. Suggestions for further information. Suggested places to explore. Calendar of events. Index. Full-color photographs and illustrations.
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School Library Journal
Gr 6-10-The climate crisis is changing the way we live and the buildings we live in. Castaldo's work shares historical, scientific, and architectural interventions that help young readers understand how buildings can be designed for our changing climate. Focused on urban buildings, the text is clear and well cited, providing a sufficient depth of content. Importantly for young readers-and researchers-the glossary, references, bibliographies, and index are excellent tools to further the discussion or allow for a deeper dive into the topic. Castaldo also includes a list of suggested sites to visit and a calendar of events, encouraging young readers to explore the world outside the book. Throughout the text, there are sidebars offering a variety of engaging content, such as steps for "How can you help green your city or town?" an introduction to the "Library of Trees," and even an explanation on "the importance of city-dwelling pollinators." Photographs and illustrations support or expand on the text. VERDICT An exciting opportunity to engage young readers with their world and the multidisciplinary researchers working on these big, global issues.-Jessica Schriver?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.