3 ms·

We have an incredible 4000sq ft olive grove at the top of the 48 storey Beetham Tower in rainy Manchester. The architect turned the top two floors into his own

We have an incredible 4000sq ft olive grove at the top of the 48 storey Beetham Tower in rainy Manchester. The architect turned the top two floors into his own penthouse, complete with enclosed olive trees. Picture: http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2009/04/27/270409_beetham_simpson_feature.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2009/04/27/... Trees at the top of a skyscraper convey both extravagance and eco credentials. Helipads are no longer credit-crunch-friendly. Video (Skip to 1:16 for the trees) http://karmacrew.tv/our-work/architect-profile-ian-simpson-beetham-tower/ http://karmacrew.tv/our-work/architect-profile-ian-simpson-b...

ChuckMcM 14y ago
Well that certainly skewers the claim in the article that it will "never" happen :-). I note that these trees are effectively indoors as opposed to many of the architectural conceptions of being out doors (and the primary objection of the author). That said my biologist friend says that trees are a lot hardier than the author gives them credit for, in particular many evergreens are adapted to living in pretty harsh climates and their needles are better able to deal with high winds and temperature extremes. His question was "where are the roots" since a 25' tall tree might have a 10' root 'ball' holding it in place. So if you don't mind having a floor of 'dirt' and then the tree on the next floor up, and you don't mind your tree being an evergreen, you can probably do something sustainable.
- bhickey 14y ago
  Your comment made me think of the trees down by the shore near Mori Point. The trees are radically bent away from the ocean by the sea breeze. http://goo.gl/maps/S0BSd http://goo.gl/maps/S0BSd
graeme 14y ago
I am pleased that the architect lives in his own building. Inspires confidence in the buildings design.
GFischer 14y ago
There are several other buildings with trees inside, in Buenos Aires (Argentina), one of the tallest towers (the YPF tower, by architect César Pelli), has an Eucalyptus grove inside. http://www.flickr.com/photos/guido-martinez/4686769123/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/guido-martinez/4686769123/ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=342972&page=2 http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=342972&pa... In Mexico City, you have "La Torre del Árbol" (Tree Tower), with a baobab tree that goes outside a window on the 9th floor, it has now grown up to the 13th floor http://www.judastechnologies.com/2009/10/30/la-historia-no-autorizada-de-la-torre-del-arbol/ http://www.judastechnologies.com/2009/10/30/la-historia-no-a... Edit: j1o1h1n mentioned the Capita Centre in Sydney, Australia: http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd4-008.htm http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd4-008.htm Le Corbusier built the Curutchet building in Buenos Aires, also with a tree in the middle: http://majocobe.blogspot.com/2009/01/casa-del-doctor-curutchet-imagen-de.html http://majocobe.blogspot.com/2009/01/casa-del-doctor-curutch... Edit: an amazing amount of examples from everywhere from Vancouver to Paris to New York to Chicago in the comments.

ChuckMcM 14y ago

Well that certainly skewers the claim in the article that it will "never" happen :-). I note that these trees are effectively indoors as opposed to many of the architectural conceptions of being out doors (and the primary objection of the author). That said my biologist friend says that trees are a lot hardier than the author gives them credit for, in particular many evergreens are adapted to living in pretty harsh climates and their needles are better able to deal with high winds and temperature extremes. His question was "where are the roots" since a 25' tall tree might have a 10' root 'ball' holding it in place. So if you don't mind having a floor of 'dirt' and then the tree on the next floor up, and you don't mind your tree being an evergreen, you can probably do something sustainable.

bhickey 14y ago
Your comment made me think of the trees down by the shore near Mori Point. The trees are radically bent away from the ocean by the sea breeze. http://goo.gl/maps/S0BSd http://goo.gl/maps/S0BSd

graeme 14y ago

I am pleased that the architect lives in his own building. Inspires confidence in the buildings design.

GFischer 14y ago

There are several other buildings with trees inside, in Buenos Aires (Argentina), one of the tallest towers (the YPF tower, by architect César Pelli), has an Eucalyptus grove inside. http://www.flickr.com/photos/guido-martinez/4686769123/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/guido-martinez/4686769123/ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=342972&page=2 http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=342972&pa... In Mexico City, you have "La Torre del Árbol" (Tree Tower), with a baobab tree that goes outside a window on the 9th floor, it has now grown up to the 13th floor http://www.judastechnologies.com/2009/10/30/la-historia-no-autorizada-de-la-torre-del-arbol/ http://www.judastechnologies.com/2009/10/30/la-historia-no-a... Edit: j1o1h1n mentioned the Capita Centre in Sydney, Australia: http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd4-008.htm http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd4-008.htm Le Corbusier built the Curutchet building in Buenos Aires, also with a tree in the middle: http://majocobe.blogspot.com/2009/01/casa-del-doctor-curutchet-imagen-de.html http://majocobe.blogspot.com/2009/01/casa-del-doctor-curutch... Edit: an amazing amount of examples from everywhere from Vancouver to Paris to New York to Chicago in the comments.