For the 14th year in a row, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Awards Jury has selected the "Best Tall Building Worldwide" during a symposium held at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Out of the 123 entries from 33 countries that were considered, Stefano Boeri Architetti-designed Bosco Verticale was selected as the overall winner for 2015. With a name that translates to 'Vertical Forest,' the two-tower complex was completed in 2014, and now stands at 116 and 85 metres in Milan's skies.

Bosco Verticale, designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti, image by Paolo Rosselli

While consisting of two concrete structures, both Hines-developed towers are covered in a screen of greenery with more than 90 species growing out of planters placed on the balconies dotting every facade. This technique results in a sustainable building, protected from the city's hot summer sun while encouraging the development of biodiversity in an otherwise strongly urban environment. This kind of living facade is one of the first in the world, and is particularly impressive when you consider the height at which it was installed. 

Tour des Cedres, image courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti

However, this is not the only project of its type in the world, nor is it Boeri's. Over the past few years, several similar buildings have been proposed and built featuring hanging gardens on their facades. In Switzerland, in the Lausanne region, Boeri designed the 117-metre Tour des Cedres, where the protruding blocks forming each of the 35 floors will serve as both a terrace and a planter for one of the 100 cedar trees and other plants that will cover the facades. Scheduled for completion in 2017, the building will be the tallest structure in Western Switzerland. 

Agora Gardens in Taipei, image courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures

In Taipei, Paris-based Vincent Callebaut Architectures has conceived a 93-metre twisting tower boasting large amounts of greenery on each of the cantilevered floors. The Agora Gardens, currently under construction, will also offer the possibility for its residents to grow and harvest food thanks to orchards and a medicinal garden. Finally, in New York, ODA has unveiled its latest renderings for a residential tower at 303 East 44th Street, where five-metre-high voids every few dozen floors will contain open-air private gardens.

303 East 44th Street in New York City, image courtesy of ODA

What do you think about these projects? Let us know by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page, or by visiting our Forum. More information and renderings about the projects cited in this article are also available in the corresponding Database files, linked below.