BEVERLY HILLS BRINGS BOTANICS SKY HIGH
29 Jul 2021
Planning is underway for coupling towers that will be adorned with plants spanning the entire structure, and bring more nature into Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
Beverly Hills city council recently approved construction in June, with architecture firm Foster + Partners responsible for the design of the high rises. Gensler has also been tasked with undertaking production as executive architect.
Residents of the new high rises - that take up 17.4 acres - will be neighbouring both the Beverly Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. The triangulated block has been hot real estate with many questioning what will become of it, especially due to its prime location between Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. 
The buildings adorned with plants will be residential, however, will be next to a 10 storey building equipped with a hotel with 42 rooms, and 37 condominiums which will be up for offer. The buildings will all enclose the highly anticipated eight-acre Botanic Gardens which will sit next to Los Angeles Country Club.
The landscaping will be completed by the RIOS landscaping group, with the garden appearing to scale the buildings around it, allowing residents and the public alike to enjoy. This will add to the overall narrative of incorporating nature into infrastructure, with the buildings and gardens housing 250 plant species and trees. 
Norman Foster, Founder of Foster + Partners, said the idea came about from the region's new influences, including the need for urgent sustainability, conservation and water recycling with California at risk of drought and water shortages. He continued the structure will be built from low embodied carbon and toxicity materials, with irrigation solutions to be installed. Foster continued that the project is "committed to being the benchmark for environmental sustainability, bringing together multiple technologies to aggressively lower emissions and energy consumption.”
Winding pathways, sculptures, and a glimpse at the annual Golden Globes are all on offer at the new developments with The Beverly Hilton also receiving an upgrade. The renovations will include a new pool, and the addition of over 30 new poolside cabana rooms but will retain its original 1950s styling by Welton Becket.
Images via Global Construction Review (GCR).
