A Singapore firm is creating ‘green cities’ amidst modern metropoles.

It is as if a bold reversal of fortunes has taken place some time in the future.

Plants and other greenery rise en masse and begin to take back the planet that was once their own. But this is no dystopian science fiction novel; these buildings are the work of Woha, an architectural office based in Singapore.

Inspired by Southeast Asian culture and traditional architecture, as well as the company’s location in Singapore, Woha creates permeable buildings that lend a new, vertical dimension to green landscapes.

The architects first discovered plants as shading and façade material when planning Newton Suites, a condo development in Singapore completed in 2007, and for the first time completely covered a 100-metre-high wall with climbing plants. Their newer designs are moving this concept even further forward, with structures that incorporate solar modules and reuse both domestic- and rainwater.

Waterfalls, planted terraces and plant-covered walls will extend into buildings and a multitude of footpaths connect these areas to essentially create new, entirely walkable ‘street levels’ one, two or three storeys up.

By incorporating interiors that are porous and permeable, with spaces between edifices serving as wind tunnels, through which currents of air are channelled, as well as climbers covering the façades, creating a green filter that keeps the wall in shadow, Woha are creating futuristic buildings that allow architecture to breathe.