Stefano Boeri (born November 25, 1956) is an Italian architect, urban planner, and academic known for his innovative work integrating nature into architecture and urban environments. Born in Milan, Boeri studied at the Polytechnic University of Milan, where he earned his degree in architecture, and later completed a PhD in urban planning at the IUAV University of Venice. He founded Boeri Studio in 1999, which later evolved into Stefano Boeri Architetti, with offices in Milan, Shanghai, and Tirana. In addition to his architectural practice, Boeri is a professor of urban planning at the Politecnico di Milano and has taught internationally, including at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and the Strelka Institute in Moscow. He also served as editor-in-chief of the architecture magazine Domus and was involved in cultural and public initiatives in Italy.
Boeri is best known globally for his groundbreaking project Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), a pair of residential towers in Milan completed in 2014 that feature over 900 trees and thousands of plants integrated into the buildings’ facades. The project represents a new model of sustainable urban living and has inspired similar developments around the world, from China to the Netherlands. Boeri’s architecture emphasizes biodiversity, sustainability, ecological responsibility, and the reforestation of urban areas, ideas he furthers through projects like the proposed “Forest Cities” in China and urban greening initiatives such as Milan’s Forestami plan. His work has received international acclaim, including major awards like the International High-Rise Award and the CTBUH Best Tall Building Worldwide, solidifying his place as a leading figure in contemporary sustainable design.
Select Projects:
Bosco Verticale, Milan
Trudo Vertical Forest, Eindhoven Netherlands
Ca’ delle Alzaie, Treviso, Italy
Palazzo Verde, Antwerp Belgium
Tirana Vertical Forest, Tirana Albania
Domus Aurea, Rome Italy
Hanji House Pavilion, Venice Italy
Quattro Volte, Rome Italy
Polo del Gusto di Amatrice, Amatrice Italy
Wonderwoods Vertical Forest, Utrecht Netherlands
La Torre dei Cedri, Lausanne Switzerland
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