With the growing eco movement, it is timely to look at urban nature concepts. The ideas highlighted here are examples of how innovative designers are coming up with ingenious solutions to injecting the natural world into urban spaces.
Urban nature is an exciting concept because of how -- if implemented properly -- our daily city routine’s can become more active. Imagine finishing work and going rock climbing on the side of your building or having an indoor vertical garden to pick fresh vegetables from at lunch.
The concept of urban nature fits within the larger green movement and expresses a desire to get back to our natural surroundings.
40 Urban Nature Concepts
40
Rugged Rock Hostels
UGO Architects' Rock Hostel is a Mountain Within the City
39
Gardens on Walls
Manuel Dressmann's 'Vertical Garden' Turns Your Apartment into a Greenhouse
38
8-Story Vertical Gardens
Patrick Blanc Makes Epic Greenery on Walls of Athenaeum Hotel
37
Unusual Urban Gardens
Earth Designs' Katrina Wells Overcomes Obstacles of Urban Garden Design
36
Indoor Garden Exhibits
The Openhouse Gallery is a Pop-Up Park
35
Aquatic Floating Gardens
Physalia Provides Filtered Waters and Green Spaces
34
Urban Rooftop Forests
101 Warren Street is an Oasis of Green in the Big Apple
33
Futuristic City Farms
The Agricultural Urbanism Concept May Just Eliminate the Supermarket
32
Indoor Garden Cabinets
KasKast Greenhouse Provides Edible Plants in the Home
31
Lush Vertical Gardens
Michael Hellgren's Work as a Landscape Architect
30
Hydroponic Indoor Gardens
The Hyundai Kitchen Nano Lets Users Grow Their Own Organic Veggies
29
Micro Gardens as Living Art
Tiny Glass Terrariums by Paula Hayes
28
Indoor Forest Museums
The Andrea Branzi Maribor Museum Takes Inspiration from the Forest
27
Bolt-On Vertical Gardens
Patrick Blanc Can Turn Any Surface Into a Green Wall
26
Pixelated Wooden Walls
The Bleu Nature Driftwood Wall Features an Unconventional Design
25
Green Urban Sculptures
Verdance by Jeffrey Greger Brings Plants Back to the City
24
Private Park High Rises
The Acadia Tree Tower is Designed With Nature in Mind
23
Green Wall Abodes
This Living Structure by Samyn and Partners is Literally Covered in Plant Life
22
Solar Tree Gardens
The Bay South Botanical Preserve Will Be Singapore's Largest Biosphere
21
Asymmetrically Stacked Skyscrapers
The Urban Forest by Mad Architects in Chongqing, China
20
Scenic Green Skyscrapers
'Collage Scape' by Woo-Young is the Future of Urban Landscaping
19
Transit Greenery
The Mobile Garden by Joe Baldwin Sweetens Chicago Air
18
Green Roof Guarantees
Toronto Implements Garden-Topped Building Law
17
Greenified Freeway Cities
Odile Decq and Bonit Conrnette Architects LA Transport Solutions
16
Notched Vertical Gardens
The Shenzhen Interchange by WorkAC Merges Earth and Air
15
Sky Gardens
Eagle Street Rooftop Farm is a 6,000-Square-Foot NYC Project
14
Water Spanning Vertical Farms
Chetwood Architects' London Bridge Includes Futuristic Agriculture
13
Urban Awareness Gardens
Landgrab City in Hong Kong Teaches Lessons in Sustainability
12
Edible Schoolyards
PS216 in New York is Getting a Nutritous Makeover
11
Ultra-Green Office Building
Hidden Eco-Friendly Corporate HQ
10
Freeway Farms
'Feeder' from Studio Gang Turns an Overpass into a Greenhouse Garden
9
Potted Plant Buildings
The Organic Building by Gaetano Pesce Features an Eclectic Vertical Garden
8
Reflective Vanity Gardens
The Vertical and Prismatic Grass Mirror by H2O Architects
7
High-Rise Waterfall Zoos
The Towering Eco-Friendly Costanera Sur in Buenos Aires
6
Towering Indoor Gardens
The Bryant Park Urban Garden Room in New York City
5
Suspended Green Wall Decor
Off the Wall Pots by Thelermont Hupton
4
Futuristic Flora Bridges
The Urban Reforestation Project Aims to Make Kuala Lumpur Greener
3
Interior Neighborhoods
The Vietnamese-Exclusive Nam House in Hackney, London
2
Transparent Legal Structures
The International Criminal Court is Guilty of Having a Snazzy Design
1
Folding Vertical Gardens
The Wyatt Federal Building's $135 Million Remodel
Related Ideas
Hot Farm Girl Shoots
The Young Austrian Farmers Calendar Shows Another Side of Agriculture
Surreal Party Scenes
Alice in Wonderland Party Design by Gabriela Rabelo is Absolutely Epic
Residential Treehouses (UPDATE)
Costa Rica's Finca Bellavista is a Fantastic Concept
Cocoon Architecture
The Villa Val Slope-Side Luxury Dwelling
Private Nerd Gardens
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation is for Time and Space Contemplators
2-In-1 Homes
The Double House by Akio Nakasa Has Twice the Living Space
25 Sky-High Gardens
From Lush Vertical Gardens to Skyscraper Forests
Hilly Rooftop Homes
The Guz Architects Meera House is a Suburban Garden Sanctuary
Modern Mountainside Homes
The Winnetka House by Peter Gluck and Partners
Luxury Skyscraper Hotels
Banyan Tree Bangkok is a Towering Thai Resort Without Equal
Environmental Cityscapes (UPDATE)
New Tianjin Eco City Pictures Showcase Revolutionary City
Sustainable Super Stadiums
The Grand Stade de Casablanca is a Monolithic Eco Sports Structure
Braided Eco Towers
The Concept for the Houston Drum 25 Hour City is Ahead of its Time
Otherwordly Architecture
Space Age Designs for Here and Now by Irina Laur
Wall-Mounted Gardens
The Marko Vuckovic Grass Lamp Provides Some Home Turf
Gardens on Walls
Manuel Dressmann's 'Vertical Garden' Turns Your Apartment into a Greenhouse
15 Gravity-Defying Gardens
From Green Walls to Extraterrestrial Horticulture
Gargantuan Vertical Gardens
The Urbanarbolism Green Wall in Elche is Three Storeys Tall
Vertical Condo Gardens
The Tower Flower in Paris Reinvents the Green Wall Concept
Bridging Eco Condominiums
Off Architecture Solar Park South Wins for Green Infrastructure
Sensational Sunrooms
Studio d'ARC Retrofits 19th Century Building with Awesome Greenhouse
Prefab Green Retreats
The Eco-Temporary Refuge is a Bold Mountaintop Endeavor
Indoor Garden Exhibits
The Openhouse Gallery is a Pop-Up Park
Ultra Sustainable Office Spaces
This Stride Treglown Office Building Refines Green-Friendly
Urban Forest Simulators
Unlimited Urban Woods Brings the Wilderness Back to the Concrete Jungle
Hip Hanging Gardens
Add Greenery to the Walls With Flora Grubb's Vertical Garden
Aquatic Floating Gardens
Physalia Provides Filtered Waters and Green Spaces
Palatial Garden Mansions
The Osprey Incline Village Estate is Fit For a Modern Day King
Sod Strip Landscapes
The Patterned Grass Gardens of Deichmann Square by Chyutin Architects
Modern Garden of Edens
Plitvice National Park in Croatia is Amazing
Dizzying Contortionist Towers
The Wavy GT Tower East by ArchitectenConsort is Fascinating
Gargantuan Green Walls
Longwood Gardens Boasts North America's Largest Lush Wall
DIY Victory Garden
'Eleanor's Garden' is the Ultimate Locavore Growing Kit
Impossible Aeroponic Gardening
This AeroFarm Indoor Garden Uses No Sunlight, Soil, or Pesticides
Indoor Garden Cabinets
KasKast Greenhouse Provides Edible Plants in the Home
In-Store Gardens
The Agropolis Grocery Store Grows Produce On-Site
Indoor Forest Museums
The Andrea Branzi Maribor Museum Takes Inspiration from the Forest
Arboreal Architecture
Organic Architecture at its Best in the Leaf House by Undercurrent Architect
Plastic Bottle Palaces
La Casa de Botellas Gives New Meaning to Green Living
Submerged Scrapheap Icebergs
The Lady Landfill Skyscraper is a Floating Recycling Tower
Bolt-On Vertical Gardens
Patrick Blanc Can Turn Any Surface Into a Green Wall
Sandy Oasis Homes
The Desert Wing House is Built from the Land on Which it Sits
Green Urban Sculptures
Verdance by Jeffrey Greger Brings Plants Back to the City
Mondrian Deskscaping
Haute Culture Mini Garden Puts a Square of Roots on Your Office Desk
Solar Tree Gardens
The Bay South Botanical Preserve Will Be Singapore's Largest Biosphere
Stacked Cube Gardens
The Royer & Thirion 'Kubes' Give Your Garden Some Modern Cubism Style
Arched Garden Architecture
The Park Gate is an Oasis in the Dubai Desert
Fish Tank Farms
Rob Maslin's 'Free Lunch' Uses Fish to Help Grow Food
Chameleon Eco Structures
The Hsiangshan Visitor Center Blends in Perfectly With Its Environment
Urban Green Redesigns
The Langfang Eco-Smart City Wins an Award for Its Vision
Diagonal Gardening
Indoor Kiikku Planter by Finnish Designers Susanna Hoikkala and Tanja Sipil
Preserved Historic Homes
Natkevicius & Partners Wrap a Cannon Foundry in Glass
Scenic Green Skyscrapers
'Collage Scape' by Woo-Young is the Future of Urban Landscaping
Korean Living Roofs
Gargantuan Green Roof Planned for Seoul, South Korea
Transit Greenery
The Mobile Garden by Joe Baldwin Sweetens Chicago Air
Solarific See-Through Pavilions
'Paul de Ruiter Architects' Designs an Amazing Eco Structure
Vacant Lot Art Galleries
LentSpace Transforms Manhattan's Empty Lots Into Places for Artspiration
Water-Purifying Skyscrapers
The Jakarta Skyscraper Cleans up Flooded Slums
Greenified Freeway Cities
Odile Decq and Bonit Conrnette Architects LA Transport Solutions
Garage Gardens
Intexure Architects Turn the Roof of a Parking Complex into a Natural Paradise
Greenhouse Housing
The Growingcity Aims to Integrate Farming With Urban Living
Glowing Garden Veggies
The Ripe Radish Solar Lamp is an Excellent Source of Illumination
Planter Handbags
The 'Vagabond' by Woolly Pockets is a Portable Garden Fashion Accessory
Vertical Gardening
This Aeroponic Garden is Food for Thought
Lush Wasteland Renovations
Freshkills Park Will Greenify the World's Largest Landfill
Canned Indoor Gardens
Arnoldi Europe's MicroGiardini Features Adorable Recyclable Packaging
Artistic Staring Contests
'The Artist is Present' by Marina Abramovic Dares You to Blink
Urban Awareness Gardens
Landgrab City in Hong Kong Teaches Lessons in Sustainability
Overlapping Greenhouses
The Wam Architecten Inntel Hotel is Stacked Sophistication
Kitchen Gardens
The Herb Pot by Toyokitchin & Living Corporation
Geometric Garden Groves
The 'Urb Garden' is the Ultimate in Avant Gardening
LED Indoor Planters
The Ramiform Urbanity Herb Garden is for City-Dwelling Green Thumbs
Sustainable Pyramid Agriculture
The Vertical Farm Project Could Chance The Face Of Farming Forever
Ultrasound Art Exhibits
Damien Hirst Exhibition Debuts in Monaco
Fetching Farm Photography
'Country Charm' for Teen Singapore Features Bales of Hay as Props
Transforming Train Stations
Carlisle Rail Platform Turned into Lounge and Garden for Homebase
Upcycled Hydroponic Gardens
The Grow Bottle Combines Style and Sustainability
Transparent Sin City Abodes
The Veer Towers Give Residents an Unfettered View of Vegas
Shape-Changing Towers
Frank Gehry's Wrinkled Beekman Tower has a Dynamic Exterior
Space-Saving Garden Tools
The Folding Wheelbarrow is a Gardener's Dream Come True
Hipster Chic Playschools
The Israeli Designer Kindergarten Makes Me Want to Go Back to School
Hospitalized Hanging Gardens
Ned Dodington's Poly-Lawn-Dale is Watered by IV Drips
Earthy Gaming Interiors
The 3D Farmville Carpet by Florian Pucher Features Farm Plots
Garden Planter Gowns
The Sprinkle Dress is a "Gardening" Gown Made from Living Plants
Reflective Vanity Gardens
The Vertical and Prismatic Grass Mirror by H2O Architects
Mile-High Homes
Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Tower is Set to Be Twice as Tall as the Burj Khalifa
77 Ecotecture Triumphs
The Future Of Architecture Is Definitively Green
Artistic Outdoor Museums
Brazil's ‘Inhotim' Art Zoo is a Masterpiece
Bio Domechitecture
South Korea's Ecorium Project is a Massive Nature Reserve
Green Urban Installations
New Zealand's Britomart Station's Temporary Oasis
Lattice-Skinned Schools
Dress Code by Complex City Explores Creative Structural Cladding
Outdoor Eco-Museums
Switzerland's Tree Museum is Dedicated to Preserving Rare Trees
Compact Homegrown Produce
The Origin Indoor Farm Makes You Environmentally Responsible
Culture-Colliding Renovations
Isuuru Architects Bring Spanish Palace to New Era
Mollusk-Like Architecture
The Israeli Pavilion Intertwines Innovation and Technology
Grand Sustainable Resorts
The ITC Royal Gardenia is the World's Greenest Hotel for Its Size
Lawn-Covered Schools
Fine Arts School by Row Studio Has a Grass Roof You Can Lounge on
Digital Aged Public Schools
The Quest to Learn School in NYC is Education of the Future
Ecofied Transit Centers
San Francisco Transbay Transit Center Gets Go-Ahead Funds
Jenga Block Buildings
'Bumps in Beijing' Gives the City Skyline a Playful Aesthetic
Sky-High Miami Marvels
Miami Dade College to Get Striking New Campus Center
Educational Aqueducts
Jaramillo-Azuero Architects Propose Environmental Learning Centre
Trippy Display Exhibits
CoOB Portrait Pavilion Exists in a World of its Own
Enviro Hospital Complexes
The Laguna Honda is California's First Leed Hospital
Reused Windshield Greenhouses
Sebastien Ramirez Makes Greenhouse Out of Car Windows
Houseware Architecture
The Spyfrost Project Puts Your Old Appliances to Use
Towering Indoor Gardens
The Bryant Park Urban Garden Room in New York City
Green Grocery Gardens
Better Food Solutions Firm Brings Rooftop Greenery to NYC Supermarkets
Futuristic Flora Bridges
The Urban Reforestation Project Aims to Make Kuala Lumpur Greener
Slashed Slanted Towers
The Amazing Design for the City by the Sea in Aarhus
Pet Vacation Farms
'Country Dogs' Provides Rural Recreation for Canines
Mirrored Eco Skyscrapers
Bluarch's Entropic Inhabitation is a Mean Green Residential Tower
Folding Vertical Gardens
The Wyatt Federal Building's $135 Million Remodel
Green Glowing Towers
Ariel Noyman Designs a Futuristic Untraditional Water Tower With Foliage
Garden Bon Bons
Seed Balls Clevery Disguised as Chocolates
Propeller-Like Architecture
The New Amsterdam Plein & Pavillion Symbolizes Friendship
Leaning Triangular Towers
The Porocity Concept Receives Honorable Mention in the Evolo Competition