Experiencing all four in the same day
We all have our favourite season, but if you were lucky enough to be in Milan earlier this year, perhaps you experienced all four in the same day. We’re not talking about freak weather conditions, simply a garden using climate control technology to enable visitors to experience spring, summer, autumn and winter at the same time.
Developed by Italian architect Carlo Ratti, the garden was located in undercover pavilions in the city’s main square, Piazza del Duomo. Covering a 500 square-metre space, its purpose was to raise awareness about climate change and the need to make cities greener.
The plants were connected to digital sensors that monitored water, temperature, humidity and nutrients, thus keeping them healthy. The crystal membrane over the garden dynamically filtered the sun, based on input from light-reactive sensors. The climate was controlled using photovoltaic planes above the pavilion, which generated clean energy to keep each season’s space at the correct temperature.
One of many modern creations
Milan is no stranger to experiments to make it more green. The BoscaVerticale (vertical forest) is a skyscraper in the PortaNuova district that is planted with shrubs. Its creators, Boeri Studios, have been commissioned to develop China’s first green urban space, the Liuzhou Forest City.
Boeri Studios also have projects in France, the Netherlands and Poland to make cities both more aesthetically appealing and cleaner. Studies suggest that structures such as the BoscaVerticale could reduce pollution by up to 30 percent, making living in cities less detrimental to wellbeing.
Meanwhile, in London, guerrilla gardening is taking hold, with projects springing up to make the capital a more pleasant and cleaner place to live. The Edible Bus Stop is a notable design company, which aims to transform pockets of space across London into mini gardens and parks via community gardening.
The impetus behind greener living
More and more attention is now being paid to the quality of life in cities. Urbanisation isn’t slowing down, and European streets are becoming ever more crowded and polluted, which in turn affects the wellbeing of inhabitants.
Humans are thought to have an innate connection with nature – which is termed ‘biophilia’ – a connection which isn’t nurtured among concrete and brick. In addition, it’s well known that plants play a significant role in improving air quality by filtering out nitrogen dioxide and particles that contribute to lung damage.
How R&D tax credits can help
Such architectural endeavours as Professor Ratti’s garden and Boeri Studios’ skyscraper require, of course, a huge amount of research and development. Similar projects in the UK are likely to be eligible for R&D tax credits, as they involve the overcoming of scientific and technological challenges that would benefit society as a whole.
If your business is involved in a project to make cities greener, you can find R&D tax credits explained in our helpful guide. Alternatively, if you’re looking for business grants to help you fund an environmental project, contact us at R&D Tax Solutions today for advice.