Air pollution is the simplest important cause for the severe health issues of the ongoing urbanization in every corner of the world. Italy is one of the contributors to the list of countries that creates a significant amount of air pollution. In 2018, Italy was on the red alert list as the air quality level was alarming. There was a sharp rise in the concentration of the microscopic particulate matter PM 2.5 which causes most of the breathing and heart problems and contributes to 9% of deaths of Italians over the age of 30 years.
In 2019, according to the figures by IQAir the air quality index reached 61 USAQI which placed Italy in the moderate category in the ranking positions of the countries causing air pollution. The architects and designers are doing their best to invent and implement new techniques to curb this cause from solutions like smog-sucking towers and bikes to moss-covered walls of buildings. One of the most interesting measures that have been taken up by the architects in Milan, Italy which is also one of the most polluted cities in the whole of Europe is Milan’s Bosco Verticale.
“Trees are the cheapest and most efficient way to absorb carbon dioxide”
The architect’s plan was to propose an idea that not only helps to elevates the living luxuries of people but also saves the environment. They proposed vertical forest towers that consists of residential apartments along with the envelope of different species of trees covering the tower from all the compass directions. It was the brainchild of Italian architect Stefano Boeri whose first example was inaugurated in 2014 in Milan in the Ports Nuova Isola. Vertical forest towers replace the traditional method of covering the urban spaces of buildings with different materials. Instead, they got enveloped with trees of changing polychromy creating a microclimate of each species on that surface.
These vertical towers build a microclimate and filter fine particles that are there in the environment. The created microclimate produces humidity, absorbs CO2 and particles, produces oxygen, and protects the indoors against radiation and noise pollution. The towers not only contribute to the cleaning of the urban environment but also to making the view of the city more interesting. These towers act as the ever-evolving landmarks of the cities as the color of the trees on the tower changes depending upon the season. Accordingly, the view of the city changes from season to season, they give a new look to the cityscape of that area.
The other interesting and effective initiative taken by architects in Italy was an Artificial Mountain that was planned to get built in Turin, one of the most polluted cities in Europe. It was the idea of architect Angelo Renna to propose a 90-meter-high mound of soil that is capable of absorbing carbon dioxide from the air in Turin. It was planned to get made out of the soil that was to get excavated during the construction of a 170- mile railway tunnel which was to be built between the northern Italian city and Lyon, France.
According to the researchers, quarried soil has a high capacity to absorb CO2. Most of the CO2 content from the nearby areas would be sucked by this mountain making the air and the surrounding atmosphere clean.This sponge mountain would not only act as an environment-friendly mountain but would also be a place for the nearby residents to come socialize and interact as it would be carved out with paths and would be planted with trees to build up a park which is also making the environment clean.
Architects, urban planners, urban designers, and geoengineers are inventing new and effective ways to protect the environment. Urban designers and planners are designing cities that are walkable for the residents, promoting pedestrianization over choosing cars to commute. They are promoting cities with more and more trees with almost no environmentally harming materials. But we as the common people also have to contribute to this process of saving the environment. We as a part of this earth have to contribute to cleaning the mess that has been created over the years.
Building sustainable structures with numerous environment-saving techniques, planning walkable cities which say no to automobiles, and promoting transit systems are not the only ways to save the surface on which we are living. We do have to walk an extra mile to bring back our earth. We as a community of human beings have to contribute to this process. We as a tribe have to walk together on this path hand in hand to increase the level of liveability on this earth. If the measure would not be taken immediately and strictly and if things continue to go on as they are moving right now then day zero for this planet is not much far away. The end days are here!!
References:
- Crosignani, Paolo. (2021). Air pollution in italian cities: Critical aspects and proposals. European Public Health Alliance. Available at: https://epha.org/air-pollution-in-italian-cities-critical-aspects-and-proposals/ [Accessed on: 11 October, 2021].
- IQ Air. Air quality in Italy. Available at: https://www.iqair.com/italy.
- Archdaily. Bosco Verticale/ Boeri Studio. Archdaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticale-stefano-boeri-architetti.
- Xle, Jenny. (2017). Vertical forests may help solve climate change and housing shortages. Curbed. Available at: https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16059384/vertical-forest-italy-climate-change. [ Accessed on: 9 August, 2017].
- Block, India. (2018). Artificial mountain made of soil could soak up pollution in Turin. Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/10/25/sponge-mountain-angelo-renna-absorb-pollution-climate-change/. [Accessed on: 25 October, 2018].
