Property seekers with a love of the great outdoors could soon call the world’s tallest vertical garden home, with a unique sustainable development currently on the market in Sri Lanka.
Stretching 46 floors high, Clearpoint Residencies near Colombo city will be the world’s tallest residential vertical garden when construction is completed in April 2016. The exterior of the building – which is billed as Sri Lanka’s first sustainable high rise – is covered in planted terraces and mango trees, giving the property its unique appearance. The planted exterior also works to reduce the heat level in the building, by lowering exposure to direct sunlight and providing fresher air.
The building is a joint project of Milroy Perera Associates and Mäga Engineering. Leading property portal Lamudi recently signed with the developers to list Clearpoint Residences on its website. Properties ranging in size from two-bedroom apartments to a luxury penthouse are now listed online through Lamudi Sri Lanka.
Wilhelm Hammes, Managing Director of Lamudi Sri Lanka, said: “This development is the first of its kind for Sri Lanka. In recent years, with the local property market registering considerable growth, issues like sustainability have started to come into focus. As the real estate sector matures, we expect to see more eco-friendly developments hit the market.”
Instead of traditional balconies, architect Milroy Perera has incorporated spacious outdoor terraces with each apartment. The terraces have been planted with mango trees to provide shade, cool the terraces and protect against radiant heat. The plants will act as a sound barrier, provide shade, and cleanse the surrounding air. There is also space for residents to grow their own plants.
Perera comment that: “The Kanadalama Hotel was one of the inspirations for the project as we wanted to do something more than just create a home. A house is more than just shelter, it’s a lifestyle.”
A unique drip irrigation system will be installed during construction, eliminating the need to water the plants manually. The main source of water will be rain, making the system eco-friendly and sustainable in the long run. Recycled water from the building itself will also be used to supply the irrigation system. Moreover, the development includes 13,500 square feet of solar panels which will be used to power segments of the building such as the lobby lights and elevators.
