This is one of the first developments of its kind in Poland. A vertical forest decorated a new residential building in Katowice. Large trees were imported from Germany to decorate the 11 storeys. The Italians have their famous Bosco Verticale in Milan, and the residents of Katowice have a substitute in the form of the Damrota Garden development.
The project is being built in Katowice on Damrota Street. The residential building has 11 storeys and its characteristic element is to be fragments of the façade decorated with plants. This is precisely the silhouette that architect Tomasz Konior has designed for the voivodship’s capital.
The Millenium Inwestycje developer has opted to integrate nature with architecture, using as many as 65 varieties of plants. Particularly prominent among them are the more than 9-metre-high plane trees, which give the façade a monumental appearance with their grandeur. Completing the composition are varieties of azaleas, coniferous trees and ornamental grasses, which together form a diverse, perennial mosaic of greenery. This carefully composed palette is intended to please the eyes and make the building change its appearance according to the seasons.
Architecture meets nature
Some of the plantings used in the development come from the German nursery Bruns Pflanzen, which has been in continuous existence for 150 years. This institution was responsible for the greenery at famous locations such as the Champs-Élysées, the Field of Mars or the royal palace at Versailles. The presence of these historic specimens on the façade of the Katowice building gives the project a unique dimension – a kind of fusion of the European greening tradition with modern urban architecture. The large trees are intended to symbolise permanence as well as dynamic development.
The realisation of the vertical forest is overseen by the Polish company AKG Architektura Krajobrazu, known for its revitalisation of historical areas and projects such as the King Jan III Sobieski Palace Museum or the Royal Łazienki Park. The designers took into account the specificity of the local climatic conditions, selecting year-round plants that guarantee the effect of a green façade regardless of the changing seasons. This transforms the building into a living organism.
Visualisation:
Greenery in the city
The green approach to architecture, while aesthetically striking, also has a practical dimension. City authorities reward innovative solutions by offering favourable tax breaks to property owners who introduce green roofs or vertical gardens. Such solutions not only improve the quality of life for residents, but are also expected to have a positive impact on the microclimate and reduce noise and dust pollution.
The Katowice development is a symbolic combination of modern architecture and the tradition of living close to nature. The monumental plane trees and other woody specimens on the building’s façade are an expression of the connection between man and nature, reminding us that peace and harmony can still be found in the heart of the metropolitan jungle. For the residents and users of the space, the building is intended to be an oasis where the everyday intertwines with nature.
source: press materials
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