RMJM has unveiled exclusive images of a proposed tower building in Ekaterinburg, Russia’s third largest city, which houses a vertical ‘hanging’ garden – believed to be the only one of its kind in the world.

Speaking last week at a Pan-European conference on green construction in Berlin last week, Matt Cartwright, a director of RMJM’s London office, said:

“Tall buildings will play an important role in the future of modern cities and the focus for all cities, including London, should be on making these buildings environmentally sustainable so we preserve the environment, conserve energy and provide healthy working and living spaces.”

He added: “Building tall can mean a smaller building footprint, allowing for more space for the parks, rivers and green public space that are vital for a city.”

Inspired by the city’s heritage and developed for the Red Group, the tower has a contemporary vertical evergreen park running through the core of the building demonstrating that tall buildings also provide an opportunity to create new green public space for a city.

The Ekaterinburg tower is designed for the enjoyment of the general public, as well as those who work in the building. The firm’s design solution was developed in response to the extreme climate in the country. The vertical park is topped by a public sky park at the building’s pinnacle offering panoramic views of the city