Greening existing infrastructure
Greening existing infrastructure 🌿
What if cities could create more green space without using more land?
In 2016, Tagar#Mexico City’s Vía Verde initiative began transforming concrete columns along the Periférico highway into vertical gardens.
The original plan targeted 1,038 columns and 60,000 m² of vertical greenery.
Instead of searching for new space, the project looked at what was already there: existing urban infrastructure.
Here’s what makes it remarkable:
– Rainwater and treated water used for irrigation.
– Smart sensors monitor key growing conditions.
– Existing infrastructure gains a new green function.
– 1,000+ highway columns transformed into vertical gardens.
Why this matters:
➡️ Overlooked surfaces can become usable assets
➡️ Technology can support urban vegetation systems
➡️ Existing infrastructure can serve additional functions
➡️ Greenery can be introduced without consuming new land
Vertical gardens won’t replace trees, parks or broader urban climate strategies.
But Vía Verde demonstrates an interesting principle: Sustainable cities aren’t only about building something new. They are also about reimagining what we’ve already built.
Cities are full of walls, pillars, rooftops and forgotten surfaces.
What else could we transform instead of replacing?
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Video credit: james_stew
