Green structures in Milan stand as radical architectural rethink

Two buildings standing side by side that opened in the Italian city of Milan in October 2014 offered something different - they were covered in trees and shrubs.

Situated in the Porta Nuova district, the buildings not only offer an oasis in a desert of concrete and red-tiled roofs, they represent a radical rethink on how architects see the future of cities.

Designed by Milan company Stefano Boeri Architetti, the "vertical forest" buildings feature more than 900 trees on 8,900 square meters of terraces, and thousands of shrubs. The project has earned the company numerous awards and accolades around the world, and contracts for similar developments.