One of the most significant trials faced by the megacities of the 21st century is the vastly expanding population across the globe. According to the intergovernmental organisation the United Nations, the world’s population is predicted to soar to a mountainous 9.7 billion by the year 20501. By this year, the UK will contribute a sum of more than 77 million towards this mass, further cementing our capital’s megacity title. This population boom is the result of longer life expectancies, a potential increase in immigration for the UK and a prognostication of more births than deaths over the next 10 years here in the UK2.
Architects are the underlying assets required – not only in the UK; but the world over – to accommodate this ever-growing agglomeration. Internationally, every settlement hierarchy will witness this substantial growth and architects will encounter limitations when it comes to floor area ratio, leaving one alternative option; to continue to build up. High-rise buildings have long been an architect-favourite for residential applications. However, one element often disregarded in the fabrication and design of high-rise builds is biodiversity.
One example of structural biodiversity featured in this month’s issue is Ingenhoven Architects’ quadripartite high-rise tower, Marina One. Situated in the core of Singapore’s Marina Bay Central Business District, this awe-inspiring three-dimensional ‘green oasis’ reflects the diversity of tropical flora, providing the populaces of Singapore living space close to nature. Turn to page 18 to read further into Singapore’s towering green skyscraper.
Elsewhere, FC&A explores another flora-focused scheme by Milan-based architect firm, Stefano Boeri Architetti. Trudo Vertical Forest of Eindhoven is a social housing scheme designed for low-income social cohorts at affordable rates with one fundamental difference; it’s enveloped in trees and plants. The 19-storey tower, in the words of Stefano Boeri, “confirms that it is possible to combine the great challenges of climate change with those of housing shortages”. Turn to page 38 to see how this Italian architect is addressing the housing shortage in the Netherlands.
1www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2017.html 2www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationprojections/ bulletins/nationalpopulationprojections/2016basedstatisticalbulletin