Green City Solutions

The Green city Solutions 

The city tree

Glasshouse Street, just off Piccadilly Circus

What they propose ?

The ability of certain moss cultures to filter pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides from the air makes them ideal natural air purifiers. But in cities, where air purification is a great challenge, mosses are barely able to survive due to their need for water and shade. This problem can be solved by connecting different mosses with fully automated water and nutrient provision based on unique Internet of Things technology. Air filtering performance is quantitatively proven and the plants’ requirements are measured in real time. That’s how the CityTree came into being – the world’s first bio-tech filter to quantifiably improve air quality.

I love the concept of the project but I'm still unsure if they have an architects involved with the project.

So what did I see?

I travelled across London on a particularly hot day as I had to see the city tree in all its glory(if you do go for a visit and come via tube come out of exit four its on the right and straight in front is the best chocolate and ice cream shop ever, thank me later).

So they city tree is impressive in how it inhabits the street space and I was impressed.

But I wanted to see the nitty gritty, how the plants were attached, what growth medium was used, what plants are used, how does it sit on the street, what do the seats feel like, how does the water system work, how is it ventilated, is it loud, do people interact with it ? and does it have a cooling affect on a personal level?

These are a few of the questions I set to answer when visiting, its something that can only be understood in person.

How the plants were attached?

The plants are attached to a grid system that has pot like structure like traditional green wall structures.

 What growth medium was used ?

Traditional soil is used to plants the moss ( moss binds particulate matte, produces oxygen and cools the air) and plants.

What plants are used?

The moss type that I think they are using is Amblystegium Moss and plants are kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

 How does it sit on the street?

It has a gap under the base and sit on stilt that move up and down this is to make it a moveable object but doesn't really make it feel part of the street scape.

 What do the seats feel like ?

The seat is abit large (my feet can't reach the floor) but on the whole comfortable.

How does the water system work?

Optimum watering: An automated provision of water and nutrients is provided from a built in tank and is completely independent.

 How is it ventilated?

By activating the ventilation system already in place in the construction, airflow can be increased. The CityTree therefore becomes independent of the natural wind flow that can be very different from location to location. The amount of air flowing through can be controlled individually, to suit the respective air pollution situation or also within predefined periods of time during a day. The CityTree’s air filter performance is considerably increased – as is, therefore, the positive effect on the environment in the form of a larger amount of cleaner air.

 Is it loud ?

It has intermittent amounts of noise when the water system is on and the fans are cooling the system.

 Do people interact with it ?

People did interact with the seating and were interested in the plant growth and what the bench was doing/trying to achieve.

 Does it have a cooling affect on a personal level?

I didn't notice any cooling affect when standing next to the bench, maybe this is because it was an extremely hot day.

what technology does it use?

Intergrated IoT technology delivers environmental data as well as comprehensive performance and status information on the CityTree in real time.

*IoT - IoT Technologies is a reference and self-education resource for the field of IoT technologies. Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects—devices, vehicles, buildings and other items—embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity that enables these objects to collect and exchange data.

What isn't working ?

One half of the bench is completely dead, I know that it has been an unusually warm summer but this I just don't understand. 

The system has a built in climate control and watering system yet still the plants are dying.

Why wasn't the growth bed treated as a micro climate growing different plants at the top then at the bottom, this would have helped to control the plants and the temperature/water they could take.

I looked online and it states they design each city tree for the city and this one just doesn't seem to be working.

The overall manufacturing of the city tree didn't seem to be of a high quality- I like the fact that it is moveable but it should also feel like its part of a space.

The in built watering system was leaking all over the street and stain the stainless steel.

Overall, I really like the concept and think it is a step in the right direction but I think that this needs to be refined by look at the growth medium as a micro climate and planting to meet the needs.

The design also needs refinement and manufacture needs to be explored further.