Cape Town will be the home of the first biophilic building in South Africa by the final quarter of 2024. The term “biophilic” means ‘to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature,’ according to the Merriam Webster dictionary. In architecture, biophilic design techniques refer to connecting the inhabitants of a structure with nature.
The Fynbos development will feature a vertical garden made up of indigenous plants that have broken ground in Cape Town’s city centre.
The purpose of this building is to create a natural environment in an urban setting, with emphasis on available light, air flow, clean water, and plants.
But, once completed, it will have a 24-storeys of mixed-use space, featuring 689 apartments, a rooftop sunset terrace with a lap pool, co-working space, and a fitness centre. Furthermore, the ground floor will have a plant-based restaurant, tea room, and botanical bar.
You can look out for this amazing structure in a vacant building at 142 Bree Street in Cape Town which has recently turned into an urban street art gallery, with the creations of some of the city’s top graffiti artists adorning dilapidated walls.
To make this possible, Lurra Capital, the owners and developers of the Fynbos, whose vision featured a vertical garden stretching from top to bottom of the building, said the vertical garden will be made up of 30 species of tree and 20 species of shrub, all indigenous to the Cape.
The trees will be anchored in place to survive gusts, while more elaborate planters will be sheltered in the high-rise’s crevices, offering protection from the city’s infamous wind.
Pictures: Supplied
ALSO READ: Another giant squid washes up in Cape Town
