Architect Stefano Boeri released plans to construct the first vertical forest ever to be included in a low-income housing building, in January 2018. Boeri previously created vertical forests in a luxury residence in Milan, among other projects. The current plans are being utilized by social housing organization Sint-Trudo in the Dutch city of Eindhoven. The Trudo Vertical Forest will include 5,200 plants and 125 trees on its 19 stories.

Cities remain the driving force of the global economy and home to much of its innovation, yet from Singapore to San Francisco, they are struggling to remain inclusive. And while this single development won’t solve cities’ issues around inequality, it’s encouraging to see vertical forests moving out of the luxury segment.

Because this example also highlights a wider truth: the old ‘rules’ are broken. Expectations transfer across industries and segments in a flash. In this environment, someone will ask why it’s only luxury developments that are designed to alleviate the mental and environmental pressures of urban life? And could the same thinking be applied to a different segment? The answer is, of course, yes!

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