An Architect’s Masterplan: Liuzhou Will Become A Unique Smog-Eating Forest City

Italian architect Stefano Boeri has become a visionary. He’s not only developing new concepts on paper but is trying to implement and build as much of his ongoing research throughout the world as possible. The Architetti of his team plan on changing the urban landscape to withstand the harsher environment of the near future.

His biggest success came in the form of a Vertical Forest in Milan, a plan for urban reconstruction now replicated in other cities, as well. China, especially, is looking for dramatic new ways of reconnecting to nature and the power it has in abundance to control the environmental future of the country. Nanjing, Shanghai and Shenzhen have already adopted the idea of a city covered in lush greenery, but can only go so far with their existing infrastructure literally set in stone.

However, the new major project will be built north of Liuzhou, in the mountain area of Guangxi. Boeri himself is referring to this very project as the Master Plan. An all-new take on the problems that China and other countries need to tackle within a timeframe that is getting shorter by the day.

The construction to the Liuzhou Forest City is officially on the way hoping to fight air pollution and setting milestones for sustainable construction sites of this enormous scale.

The Liuzhou Municipality commissioned a city for up to 30.000 people with a clear emphasis on self-sufficiency, the use of renewable energy and great biodiversity. Boeri will be covering all houses, offices and even the hotels, a hospital and 2 schools. The buildings cladded by plants and trees will fight air pollution by absorbing 10,000 tons of CO2, producing 900 ton of pure oxygen in return. The project plans to plant more than 40,000 trees, almost 1 million plants in total with a biodiversity of over 100 species, earning the badge of ‘real’ estates.

According to the architects, the city will also be featuring a variety of future proof and energy self-sufficient solutions to its urban establishment. All of the buildings will draw on geothermal energy and rooftop solar panel for their power needs.

In addition, the city becomes entirely wired and besides the mandatory electric cars, will then be connected to Liuzhou itself through fast rail lines.

If the Master Plan of Stefano Boeri will indeed be finished on time, it could very well be atop the list of places you should visit in the near future.