The multiple functions of trees: how to mitigate an imposing industrial-building wall

Via Ugo Tognazzi, Adriano District, Milan.
An imposing perimeter wall of an industrial complex overlooks the front of a residential building: how to mitigate the impact of the wall?

Year 2016 – Imposing perimeter wall of the industrial building.

Year 2016 – Narrow green area along the wall of the industrial building.

A high green backdrop has been the solution to reduce the visual and – partly acoustic – impact of the perimeter wall of the industrial building.
The planting site was characterized by a narrow green area along the border of the industrial building.

The need  for the tree branches not to interfere with the artifacts and activities of the industrial complex have suggested the use of columnar trees.

Year 2016 – 26 specimens of Populus nigra Italica were planted.

In 2016 a row of n. 26 specimens of Populus nigra Italica were planted.

Year 2017 – The trees one year later.

Year 2017 – The trees in June.

The spacing of 5 m on the row were adopted to obtain at the same time:

• the visual and acoustic mitigation effect of the building wall,
• good air circulation between the row of trees and the wall,
• a perception of space between trees and between trees and the perimeter wall.

Year 2018 – The trees two years later.

However, it is noted that the functions – i.e. ecosystem services – that a row of trees provide to the environment and to mankind are much more numerous, both on a micro scale – more consistent and direct benefits – and on a macro scale – where the contribution is more contained because of the small number of tree specimens.

Year 2021 – The trees six years from planting.

Year 2021 – The trees six years from planting.

Micro-environmental effects and on the resident community Via Ugo Tognazzi 39:

• Aesthetic and landscape, with improvement of the quality of the urban space through visual perception with an effect on the psychological sphere of citizens;
• Noise pollution reduction, due to the sound-absorbing capacity of trees;
• Thermoregulation, with the containment of temperatures in the summer season due to both the increase in evapotranspiration and the shading and reduction of the albedo effect of the large white wall.

Year 2021 – Perception of space and good air circulation among trees.

Large-scale effects:

• Climate, each individual tree contributes to mitigating the negative effects on the climate caused by human activities by offsetting the greenhouse effect through the fixation of CO2;
• Regulation of rainwater flux, effect on peak and runoff coefficient;
• Ecology-environment: the presence of green areas with trees increase the ecological value and biodiversity of the urban environment;
• Health, through both an atmosphere purification (removal by absorption of toxic gases, bacteriological purification and removal of fine dust and other pollutants) and an effect on the psychological sphere of citizens;
• Life quality, green spaces with trees that improve the quality of life in the city;
• Soil erosion protection.

Year 2021 – Perception of space between trees and the perimeter wall.

Year 2021 – Perception of space between trees and the perimeter wall and good air circulation among trees.