2023-09-09 12:48:58
Stefano Boeri, Italian architect, urban planner and academic, has been awarded the 2023 European LungFoundation (ELF) award for his work and commitment to improving air quality in urban environments. The award is given to individuals, groups or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the service of human health in the respiratory field.
The award is presented today during International Congress of the European Respiratory Society this year, from 9 to 13 September 2023.
Architect Stefano Boeri’s projects integrate living nature into the urban environment: several international studies have shown that living and working in close contact with trees and plants can lead to lower levels of stress and improved physical and mental health, as well as improve air quality with consequent positive effects on lung health.
Among the main opinion leaders in the debate on climate change in the field of international architecture, in 2017 Stefano Boeri participated in the Commonwealth Regenerative Development to Reverse Climate Change program; he is co-president of the scientific committee of the World Forum on Urban Forests (Mantua, 2018 and Washington 2023) and, on the occasion of the UN Climate Action Summit 2019, he presented the Green Urban Oases project in New York, together with FAO, C40 and other international research institutes.
Stefano Boeri is president of the scientific committee of Forestami, the project that aims to plant 3 million trees in the metropolitan area of Milan by 2030. The project aims to clean the air, improve living conditions in the entire area of the city of Milan and counteract the effects of climate change, through the reduction of the “heat island” effect and the mitigation of temperatures in cities. The mission represents the most effective, economical and engaging way to slow global warming, reduce energy consumption and clean the air to improve the well-being of citizens. The project will increase greenery in streets, squares and courtyards, as well as on the roofs and facades of houses.
The architect who signed the Vertical Forest project, built in Milan in 2014, with his architecture studio ranges from urban design to architecture. Stefano Boeri Architetti’s Vertical Forests are designed to provide a high level of biodiversity in densely populated areas, integrating living nature into the architecture. The presence of plants and trees helps to reduce air pollution and improve air quality, resulting in significant health benefits, particularly for people who live in cities and are exposed to high levels of pollution. Stefano Boeri Architetti is currently working on implementing urban forestation strategies around the world, with Vertical Forests in the Netherlands – with the first Vertical Forest for social housing built in Eindhoven in 2021 and the Wonderwoods Vertical Forest under construction in Utrecht – and, in Milan, the new Policlinico hospital, which will host a 6,000 m2 garden on the roof for therapeutic use. In addition to architectural design activity, Stefano Boeri Architetti’s work includes urban regeneration projects and master plans for metropolises and large cities, including Geneva, Tirana, Cancun, Cairo and, in Italy, Milan, Genoa, Cagliari, Naples, Padua , Taranto and many others.
Stefano Boeri’s projects have inspired a new generation of architects and designers to give greater priority to environmental sustainability and social responsibility in their work.
ELF President Kjeld Hansen praised Stefano Boeri’s work: “We are delighted to present Stefano Boeri with our annual award. His work represents an innovative and sustainable approach to architecture and urban planning. Making significant breakthroughs in the field and inspiring other architects, his work has the potential to benefit the environment, health and well-being of generations to come.”
Stefano Boeri commented:
“I am happy and proud of this important recognition.
Green offers extraordinary benefits, it helps to mitigate urban heat – making cities more livable – and to absorb CO2 and fine dust, making cities and our lungs healthier; for this reason, for over 20 years, we have been working to develop ideas and projects aimed at multiplying trees and forests in urban areas. Our “Green Obsession” is a planning commitment and at the same time an aspiration that we would like to share with anyone who looks with courage and optimism at the future of our cities and the quality of life of all citizens.”
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