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| The project was meant to provide residents life in a 'vertical forest but mosquitoes love the plants too, and an infestation has kept residents away. (Photo by: AFP/STR) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] An experimental green housing project in Chengdu, a Chinese megacity promised prospective residents life in a "vertical forest", with manicured gardens on every balcony. All 826 apartments were sold out by April this year, according to the project's estate agent, but instead of a modern eco-paradise, the towers look like the set of a desolate, post-apocalyptic film since mosquitoes love the plants too.
According to the state-run Global Times newspaper, only about 10 families have moved into Chengdu's Qiyi City Forest Garden because of an infestation. The project was built in 2018, with every private balcony designed to provide space for plants to grow, according to local media reports. Without tenants to care for them, the eight towers were overrun by their own plants and invaded by mosquitoes.
Plants have almost covered some neglected balconies, with branches hanging over railings all over the towers, footage shot this month showed. Paper was taped over some of the windows that were still visible behind the overgrown plants.But some residents appeared to have braved the mosquitoes - a handful of balconies had pruned plants and outdoor furniture, and lights turned on inside the apartments.
