Stefano Boeri and his team were awarded the MIPIM prize in the Best Mixed-Use Development category for their Wonderwoods Vertical Forest project located in the Netherlands.

The accolade, bestowed during the yearly MIPIM global property exhibition taking place in Cannes, honors the "most useful, sustainable, and forward-thinking initiatives" within the real estate sector.

Situated in Utrecht, the Wonder Woods Vertical Forest is a towering structure standing at 104 meters high. It features an impressive array of flora including 360 trees and 50,000 plants across its facades, which equates to having the greenery typically found in one hectare of woodland.

The project aims to enhance the standard of living In the region, by boosting biodiversity and capturing carbon dioxide. "This serves as an actual urban ecosystem, a sanctuary for the variety of living species," stated the Stefano Boeri Architetti studio.

The tall building, inaugurated in February, marks the debut of a vertical forest concept in the Netherlands. It combines residences with public zones, amenities, and business sections all within one structure.

"The acknowledgment of the MIPIM Award for being the finest 'Mixed Use' structure globally highlights the deeply urban essence of Wonderwoods: an multifunctional and richly biodiverse architectural marvel, accessible to the everyday activities of Utrecht’s residents, flora, and fauna," stated architect Francesca Cesa Bianchi at the awards ceremony held on March 13th.

Stefano Boeri is renowned for his pioneering designs for city tree planting projects . One of his most famous projects is the Bosco Verticale – literally the "Vertical Forest" – two residential towers covered in vegetation, built in Milan.

Finished in 2014, this structure gained global acclaim within architectural circles, securing the 2014 International Highrise Award as well as being named the Best Tall Building Worldwide in 2015.

Stefano Boeri continued to implement his design globally. By 2021, he had inaugurated the Trudo Vertical Forest in the Netherlands, where he applied his idea to a social housing project for the first time. Additionally, the Stefano Boeri Architetti office is currently working on developments in both China and Dubai.

I strive to encourage urban afforestation since that's what our environment requires, In 2021, Boeri shared with Euronews We need to increase the number of trees throughout all areas. The reasons for this are quite evident. It represents a quicker, less expensive, and more equitable approach to combating global warming.