To mark the tenth anniversary of the Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), the Embassy of Italy hosted a presentation by the architect Stefano Boeri of the book “BOSCO VERTICALE: Morphology of a Vertical Forest”. Boeri discussed the project, designed by his firm, in a conversation with Nic Monisse, design editor of Monocle, and Francesca Cesa Bianchi, director and partner of Stefano Boeri Architetti.
This was the first time that the English version of the book, published by Rizzoli in collaboration with Stefano Boeri Architetti, was presented in Europe. The Italian version was published in Milan in December 2024 and will be presented in New York in March 2025.
“The Bosco Verticale is a shining example of what Italy can offer the world: a model for the city of the future that prioritises green spaces, biodiversity and the wellbeing of its inhabitants,” said Ambassador Inigo Lambertini, who hosted the event. He observed that architecture can play an important role in diplomacy, helping shape perceptions and promoting Italy’s image on the world stage.
At the end of the event there was a brief address by Manfredi Catella, the founder and CEO of COIMA, which built and manages the two buildings of the Vertical Forest.
Stefano Boeri, an internationally renowned architect and urban planner, is a founding partner of Stefano Boeri Architects. Among his other iconic projects are the Villa Méditerranée in Marseille and the Casa del Mare de La Maddalena. A lecturer in urban planning at the Milan Polytechnic, he is also a visiting professor at prestigious universities such as the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, the Lausanne Polytechnic and the Strelka Institute in Moscow. He has been president of the Milano Triennale since February 2018.
Nic Monisse, born in Australia and based in London, is the design editor of Monocle, a magazine focused on design around the world. As well as editing the articles on design and the newsletter, Monisse hosts the weekly radio programme and podcast Monocle On Design, a 30-minute journey through the world of design, from the United Arab Emirates to the United States, telling the stories of the most influential designers, architects, graphic designers and furniture manufacturers in the world.