Using Real Trees to Bring Nature Indoors
2025-01-28
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1There is a growing movement worldwide to use plants in building design to establish closer connections with nature and soften hard city styles.
2The movement also seeks to improve designs to help protect the environment and increase personal wellness.
3Many of the efforts by architects and designers have centered on one natural element: trees.
4Examples of such design can be found in many places, including New York City.
5A building in Manhattan that houses the Ford Foundation has a 12-story light-filled entrance area, or atrium.
6It is also filled with plants and flowers including magnolias, eucalyptus, jacaranda, cryptomeria, iron bark and pear trees.
7Another example sits within New York City's Brookfield Place shopping center.
8The center's main atrium includes a collection of 12-meter-tall Washingtonia palm trees.
9In Singapore, the city-state's Jewel Changi airport offers travelers an inviting environment.
10It has 2,500 trees native to nations including Madagascar, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia.
11The airport includes a 2.4-hectare indoor forest with walking paths.
12Some apartments and mixed-use buildings are also putting trees and other greenery into their designs.
13Such buildings are sometimes called "greenscrapers," a term that comes from the word "skyscraper."
14In Milan, Italy, architect Stefano Boeri designed Bosco Verticale, a 44-story building with 800 trees and other greenery.
15In the Netherlands, he also built the Trudo Vertical Forest.
16This is a low-income apartment building with trees growing on all sides.
17Similar changes are also happening inside private homes.
18In some, trees are brought right indoors.
19In others, outdoor trees are carefully placed as important partners in the building plan.
20Some architects even build homes around existing trees.
21Others plant one or more trees inside the home.
22And some architects or designers imagine natural settings indoors by using parts of trees.
23These designs are meant to create the look and feel of real wood, while bringing feelings of peace and calm.
24Ryoko Okada is an architect at New York City's Oda Architecture.
25She told The Associated Press that she and her co-workers aim to bring outdoor elements indoors as often as they can.
26"There's nothing more calming than being surrounded by nature..." Okada said.
27She added that a living tree indoors can bring peace and happiness as people watch it grow and change.
28Another design example came from KAA Design Group in Los Angeles.
29A team from the company created a modern home that uses the property's existing trees, such as cork oaks, rare Torrey pines, and magnolias.
30One very large, old cork oak sits in the center of the property.
31At first, the owners did not like the look and said they wanted the tree gone.
32One of the company's partners, Grant Kirkpatrick, had to persuade the homeowners to keep it.
33Kirkpatrick explained he succeeded by pointing out that the tree was "a 300-year-old antique that should be featured rather than removed."
34The driveway on that property also offers a calming design.
35A black pine tree rises up from the driveway like a piece of natural art.
36In addition, views from almost every window in the house feature the beautiful nature outdoors.
37Okada says she suggests people do not plant a full-size tree in their home without first seeking expert advice.
38She notes that a living tree will only do well if certain conditions - such as air, light and soil - are right.
39Okada added that a living tree "...needs to be supported by proper infrastructure to stay alive and avoid home damage."
40She also urges people to heavily research a tree's natural environment to avoid drawing in unwanted pests.
41Kirkpatrick noted that planting a tree indoors can be difficult.
42He explained that at least 1.2 meters of soil depth is needed, along with lots of natural light and the right temperature.
43Kirkpatrick said he worked on one property that experienced a serious fire in 2016.
44His team decided to use parts from one of the burned manzanita trees in the interior design.
45The piece was painted black and placed inside the property.
46He said it now represents an eye-catching, natural art piece.
47I'm Anna Matteo.
1There is a growing movement worldwide to use plants in building design to establish closer connections with nature and soften hard city styles. The movement also seeks to improve designs to help protect the environment and increase personal wellness. 2Many of the efforts by architects and designers have centered on one natural element: trees. 3Examples of such design can be found in many places, including New York City. A building in Manhattan that houses the Ford Foundation has a 12-story light-filled entrance area, or atrium. It is also filled with plants and flowers including magnolias, eucalyptus, jacaranda, cryptomeria, iron bark and pear trees. 4Another example sits within New York City's Brookfield Place shopping center. The center's main atrium includes a collection of 12-meter-tall Washingtonia palm trees. 5In Singapore, the city-state's Jewel Changi airport offers travelers an inviting environment. It has 2,500 trees native to nations including Madagascar, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. The airport includes a 2.4-hectare indoor forest with walking paths. 6Some apartments and mixed-use buildings are also putting trees and other greenery into their designs. Such buildings are sometimes called "greenscrapers," a term that comes from the word "skyscraper." 7In Milan, Italy, architect Stefano Boeri designed Bosco Verticale, a 44-story building with 800 trees and other greenery. In the Netherlands, he also built the Trudo Vertical Forest. This is a low-income apartment building with trees growing on all sides. 8Similar changes are also happening inside private homes. In some, trees are brought right indoors. In others, outdoor trees are carefully placed as important partners in the building plan. 9Some architects even build homes around existing trees. Others plant one or more trees inside the home. And some architects or designers imagine natural settings indoors by using parts of trees. These designs are meant to create the look and feel of real wood, while bringing feelings of peace and calm. 10A calm heart of the home 11Ryoko Okada is an architect at New York City's Oda Architecture. She told The Associated Press that she and her co-workers aim to bring outdoor elements indoors as often as they can. 12"There's nothing more calming than being surrounded by nature..." Okada said. She added that a living tree indoors can bring peace and happiness as people watch it grow and change. 13Framing the views with existing trees 14Another design example came from KAA Design Group in Los Angeles. A team from the company created a modern home that uses the property's existing trees, such as cork oaks, rare Torrey pines, and magnolias. 15One very large, old cork oak sits in the center of the property. At first, the owners did not like the look and said they wanted the tree gone. One of the company's partners, Grant Kirkpatrick, had to persuade the homeowners to keep it. Kirkpatrick explained he succeeded by pointing out that the tree was "a 300-year-old antique that should be featured rather than removed." 16The driveway on that property also offers a calming design. A black pine tree rises up from the driveway like a piece of natural art. In addition, views from almost every window in the house feature the beautiful nature outdoors. 17Things to consider 18Okada says she suggests people do not plant a full-size tree in their home without first seeking expert advice. She notes that a living tree will only do well if certain conditions - such as air, light and soil - are right. 19Okada added that a living tree "...needs to be supported by proper infrastructure to stay alive and avoid home damage." She also urges people to heavily research a tree's natural environment to avoid drawing in unwanted pests. 20Kirkpatrick noted that planting a tree indoors can be difficult. He explained that at least 1.2 meters of soil depth is needed, along with lots of natural light and the right temperature. 21Other ways to use trees besides having a live one 22Kirkpatrick said he worked on one property that experienced a serious fire in 2016. His team decided to use parts from one of the burned manzanita trees in the interior design. The piece was painted black and placed inside the property. He said it now represents an eye-catching, natural art piece. 23I'm Anna Matteo. 24Kim Cook reported this story for the Associated Press from New York, New York. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 25_________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27skyscraper -n. a very tall building 28style -n. a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed 29architect -n. a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction 30apartment -n. a room or set of rooms used as a dwelling 31antique -adj. being in the style or fashion of former times 32feature -n. a part or detail that stands out 33infrastructure -n. the underlying foundation or basic framework 34pest -n. a plant or animal harmful to human beings or human concerns