# Multilevel Urban Landscapes Horto in Urbs Reverses the City to Greenspace Ratio By Amelia Roblin | Published 2011-08-29 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/horto-in-urbs References: [suckerpunchdaily](http://www.suckerpunchdaily.com/2011/08/23/horto-in-urbs-garden-in-a-city/#more-15462) & [sanderspace](http://www.sanderspace.com/other.php?id=45) Like most other major international metropolises, Chicago has more or less consumed the natural landscape around it. For a city that used to take pride in its "Urbs in Horto" (City in a Garden) motto, this Horto in Urbs project is quite fitting for the contemporary state of the urban environment. Matt Hutchinson and Brandon Pace of Sanders Pace Architecture developed a pragmatic submission for the McCormick Place Redux Competition, opened by the Chicago Architectural Club. The duo has given the existing [public square](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aquapraa) a complete facelift to provide a plaza with [gardens and trees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-ecological-design), covered by two additional levels above. The top tier seems to cantilever over the vast lot, grounded along one edge by a grassy man-made hill. Horto in Urbs may be considered historically backwards, but it does well to bring [green space](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-green) back into the now very dense urban jungle. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 59% | Activity: 38% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Multilevel Urban Landscapes:** Utilizing multiple levels in urban landscapes to maximize green space and address the issue of diminishing natural landscape in major cities. - **Horto in Urbs:** Creating horticultural urban environments as a way to reverse the city to greenspace ratio and promote a more sustainable and livable urban environment. - **Urban Jungle Revival:** Reviving green space in dense urban environments to enhance quality of life and reconnect residents with nature. ### Where This Applies - **Architecture and Design:** Opportunity for architects and designers to develop innovative solutions that incorporate multilevel urban landscapes and horticultural elements into urban planning and development projects. - **Urban Planning:** Opportunity for urban planners to reimagine cityscapes by incorporating multilevel urban landscapes and horticultural features to create sustainable and nature-filled urban environments. - **Environmental Conservation:** Opportunity for environmental organizations and activists to advocate for the preservation and creation of multilevel urban landscapes as a means to address the loss of natural landscapes in cities and promote biodiversity. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Park-Covered Structural Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ola-palermo.md) - [Reimagined Civic Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/union-terrace-garden.md) - [Revived Heritage Courtyards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/savarin-project.md) - [Draped Plant-Design Shopping Centers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/calwer-passage.md) - [Living Landscape Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hedge-and-arbour-house.md) - [Warm Weather-Catered Renovations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scottsdale-civic-plaza.md) - [Urban Ecological Design Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-ecological-design.md) - [Nature-Connecting Design Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vert-installation.md) - [Greenery-Filled Skyscraper Terrarium](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/terrarium-cheongdam.md)