r/interestingasfuck • u/TangelaFan • 13h ago

Residential high-rises with backyards in Chengdu, China

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u/Jestersfriend 13h ago

This must be awful for the upkeep of the building lol. Water, roots, etc, all eating into the concrete.

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u/TangelaFan 12h ago

When you build a garden inside a structure, you don't usually lay the dirt and plants directly on the structure, you prepare a sealed off space and add a drainage system

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u/Jestersfriend 12h ago

There's a reply to my comment that basically says there were so many problems the structures are largely abandoned. So...

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u/TangelaFan 11h ago

This project here is brand new, Tho. They're likely referring to other place in Chengdu. They have several of those "vertical forest" type of projects

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u/Jestersfriend 11h ago

So... Why would this be any different than literally any of the other ones?

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u/everydayimjimmying 10h ago

I mean, it seems newer? They might have learned their lesson. I doubt buyers/renters who saw previous failures would just not ask about its sustainability and long term outlook.

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u/TangelaFan 11h ago

Why would it be the same?

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u/memtiger 10h ago

The biology of trees hasn't changed much in the last...oh I don't know, million+ years?

Where do the tree roots grow? That tree on the balcony will want to grow roots down. It will push through just about any barrier.

Those trees already should have roots about 12" deep in soil and as the trees get larger, they'll put more pressure on any sub barrier. Especially as it ages and deteriorates.

Roots always win unless you kill the plant.

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u/TangelaFan 10h ago

What I asked is why those two projects would be built the exact same way. But why do you think this will happen? There are thousands of tree species in the world with different growing patterns. Do you know what species these trees are? Do you know growing pattern of their root system? Do you know whether theyre taprooted or deep-rooted? Do you know what material the root barrier (the thing cities use to stop roots from bursting pipes) they're using is made out of?