Are living cities a realistic way to fight climate change? Amazing designs for skyscrapers built from wood are winning prizes. They could change how we live – but will they ever happen?
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The plan to build skyscrapers with trees
Are living cities a realistic way to fight climate change? Amazing designs for skyscrapers built from wood are winning prizes. They could change how we live - but will they ever happen?
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The boy steps into the New York City lift. He looks at the buttons to choose from. Trunk, Branches. He presses his floor: Treetop.
The lift whizzes straight up. Wooden walls and floors zoom past. Finally, he gets to the top. The door opens and he steps out into the canopyThe top layer of trees in a forest. Or a cover for something. and looks at the view.
This could soon be a realityReality is anything that exists. If something is a reality, it is real.. A team of architectsAn architect is somebody who designs buildings. from Ukraine has come up with an idea for a skyscraperA very tall building. Its name describes the idea that the top is scraping the clouds above it. grown from trees.
The team won a design competition with their plan. Their building would be made out of trees that are genetically modifiedTo modify is to change or alter something in some way. to grow quickly.
As the trunks and branches grow, the team plans to shape them around the frame of a tower block.
The plan would add to green space in a city. It would also be good for the environment. Building materials like concreteA hard building material made from stones, sand, cement and water. add to CO2Carbon dioxide. emissionsThings that are released, such as gases, as part of a process. E.g. greenhouse gases. . Instead, a living building would suckAll plants use CO2 in a process called photosynthesis which gives them energy to survive. Forests are sometimes called carbon sinks because they use so much. CO2 out of the air.
Supporters say whole cities could be built this way. But others say the technology is too difficult to use.
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Are living cities a realistic way to fight climate change?
Yes! The idea might sound crazy, but it is possible. Artists have already used the same science to create chairs, tables and lamps out of living trees. This is just a much bigger version of the same thing. Living buildings would not only help fight climate change. They would make cities nicer to live in. Of course they are realistic!
No, they are a crazy idea! Even with technology, the trees would take years to grow. Even if it is possible to have one skyscraper in New York, this is not the same as a whole city. It would be impossible to create them fast enough. We are better off finding easier ways to fight the climate crisis.
Keywords
Canopy - The top layer of trees in a forest. Or a cover for something.
Reality - Reality is anything that exists. If something is a reality, it is real.
Architects - An architect is somebody who designs buildings.
Skyscraper - A very tall building. Its name describes the idea that the top is scraping the clouds above it.
Modified - To modify is to change or alter something in some way.
Concrete - A hard building material made from stones, sand, cement and water.
CO2 - Carbon dioxide.
Emissions - Things that are released, such as gases, as part of a process. E.g. greenhouse gases.
Suck - All plants use CO2 in a process called photosynthesis which gives them energy to survive. Forests are sometimes called carbon sinks because they use so much.
The plan to build skyscrapers with trees
Glossary
Canopy - The top layer of trees in a forest. Or a cover for something.
Reality - Reality is anything that exists. If something is a reality, it is real.
Architects - An architect is somebody who designs buildings.
Skyscraper - A very tall building. Its name describes the idea that the top is scraping the clouds above it.
Modified - To modify is to change or alter something in some way.
Concrete - A hard building material made from stones, sand, cement and water.
CO2 - Carbon dioxide.
Emissions - Things that are released, such as gases, as part of a process. E.g. greenhouse gases.
Suck - All plants use CO2 in a process called photosynthesis which gives them energy to survive. Forests are sometimes called carbon sinks because they use so much.