Sustainability, green space, healthy living—these are the watchwords for the cities of the future. And nowhere are these elements better incorporated into urban life than in Porta Nuova, an innovative and popular district in the heart of Milan. Centered around the enormous park known as Biblioteca degli Alberi di Milano (BAM)—which translates literally to “the library of trees”— pedestrian-friendly Porta Nuova is home to a multitude of Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED)-certified buildings and has grown into a robust economic hub.
A highlight of this stellar neighborhood is the award-winning Bosco Verticale, one of the largest, highest and most exclusive properties in the city. This “vertical forest” comprises 111 apartments in two buildings, one 18 stories high and the other 26. Designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti, the buildings represent a pioneering approach to urban living, with the goal of bringing nature into the city.
Eye on Milan - COIMA
The Bosco Verticale complex combines a multitude of advantages. As one resident notes, “I was living in the old town of Milan in a historical building and was seeking a new location that could put together the different—apparently conflicting—needs of myself and my family: to be in an ‘up-to-date’ building with all the typical modern comforts, to live in a central area of the city with everything within walking distance and, last but not least, to be surrounded by green in a residential place. Bosco Verticale synthetized everything. It has been the perfect all-in-one solution.”
In its design Bosco Verticale is unlike anything else. Each building is sheathed in greenery. More than 15,000 living plants and 90 different species of trees, shrubs and other vegetation cover the exteriors—creating their own microclimate, producing humidity, absorbing CO2 and dust, and improving air quality.
Filippo Cartareggia, CEO of Residenze Porta Nuova, says, “In the context of the Porta Nuova neighborhood, Bosco Verticale stands out as a unique building, a residential complex with more than 2,000 plants on each level. Anyone who buys an apartment in Bosco Verticale does not just buy an asset but a highly sustainable concept.”
Eye on Milan - COIMA
The decor of the light-filled building interior draws inspiration from the greenery outside, with colors that are influenced by the changing seasons, from spring’s subtle hues to summer greens to vivid autumn tones.
The entire 26th floor is devoted to a spectacular 5,307-square-foot, three-bedroom penthouse, whose 360-degree views extend from the dome of the Milan cathedral to the distant Italian Alps. Six terraces, which total 1,841 square feet, offer varied outdoor garden spaces on each side of the building.
Befitting a residence in the capital of fashion and style, the concept for the bespoke penthouse interior represents a brilliant collaboration between architectural designer Dara Huang of Design Haus Liberty and the Italian studio, COIMA Image. The main living area looks out to the park and the historic city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. There is room for a generous dining area and a large home office, though overall the space is flexibly designed to allow the owner to configure it for personal needs and desires.
Eye on Milan - COIMA
On the opposite side of the penthouse is the primary bedroom suite, which has a sitting area, walk-in wardrobe and terrace. The ensuite bathroom has his-and-her amenities plus a sculptural bathtub near the terrace, whose abundant greenery subtly affords privacy.
For efficiency and support, the “back of the house” boasts a prep kitchen, a separate entrance and fully equipped staff quarters.
“Thanks to its intrinsic characteristics, the Bosco Verticale attracts both international and local Italian buyers,” says Cartareggia, “and its value will continue to increase over time. This building will remain an icon and a point of reference in the Milanese real estate market and around the world.”
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