It’s a good job that these vertical forests in Nanjing, China are going to produce 132 pounds (60kg) of oxygen every day, because they’ll literally take your breath away when you see them.

They’re called the Nanjing Towers, and once they’re complete in 2018 they’ll be Asia’s first ever vertical forests. Designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri, each tower will stand 656ft and 354ft respectively, and between them they’ll house over 1,000 trees and approximately 2,500 shrubs from 23 different local species. The taller tower will contain offices, a museum, a green architecture school and a rooftop club, while the smaller tower will house a rooftop pool and a 247-room Hyatt hotel.

Balconies will afford visitors stunning views of the dizzying vertical forests that are intended to help regenerate local biodiversity. These aren’t the first vertical forests that Stefano has designed however. Two have already been built in Milan and similar buildings have been planned for Lausanne, Switzerland. In an increasingly polluted world, these green designs are a real breath of fresh air.

More info: Stefano Boeri | Facebook (h/t: inhabitat, mymodernmet)

These towers in Nanjing, China will contain vertical forests that will house 2,500 shrubs and over 1,000 trees

The 23 different tree varieties will produce around 132 pounds (60kg) of oxygen every day

They were designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri and they will be completed in 2018

Similar buildings have also been planned by the architect for Lausanne, Switzerland

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And two vertical forests, called Bosco Verticale, have already been built in Milan, Italy

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