… or: Almost Two Years of Fresh Air in Bari
Two summers ago, thanks to the collaboration between Save the Planet APS and JTI Italia, one of our innovative moss filters was installed in the city of Bari. The CityTree in southern Italy “serves as a tangible testament to how research and technology can come together to protect our planet and offers a glimpse into the cities of the future”, said Elena Stoppioni, President of Save the Planet, during the installation.
Learn more about the installation in the article “Buon Giorno da Bari!”
Photos: GCS
“A Gift to the City in the Fight Against Climate Change and Urban Heat Islands”
The living mosses integrated into the CityTree at Largo Sorrentino in Bari play a crucial role. Last summer, Italy and Southern Europe were “hit by a heatwave at the peak of the holiday season”, with “temperatures of 40°C and above becoming the norm”. No surprise, then, that the moss filter became a popular spot to sit and enjoy fresh air. The average cooling effect from January 1, 2024, to mid-December was nearly 3°C. However, the natural evaporative cooling of the moss plants is particularly noticeable on hot summer days: On June 10, the CityTree achieved a cooling effect of almost 12°C!
“Urban acupuncture is our thoughtful and concrete response to the climate emergency: small, targeted interventions that, like needles in the city’s fabric, trigger regenerative processes and multiply environmental and social benefits. With the CityTree in Bari, we proved that even a single gesture can improve air quality, ease the effects of climate change, and create healthier, more welcoming spaces for people in the heart of the city.” – Elena Stoppioni, President of Save the Planet APS
In recent years, Save The Planet has chosen to support urban acupuncture as an effective tool to locally combat global warming. These targeted, technology-enhanced yet deeply nature-based interventions — like the moss filter installed in Bari — not only purify the air but also regenerate how people perceive and experience public space, creating oases of wellbeing in high-pressure urban areas. The goal is to promote a new way of inhabiting our cities, based on micro-actions with systemic impact.
Photo: GCS
Air purification also contributed to an enhanced stay quality in the area surrounding the CityTree near the train station. Over the past year, more than 10 million cubic meters of air have been filtered — equivalent to the breathing volume of over 900,000 people in a single day. This means the CityTree was able to capture pollutants, especially fine dust, from the surrounding air — comparable to filtering out the pollutants of more than 15,000 cigarettes.
“We believe in an urbanism that heals: urban acupuncture is a design strategy that can spark profound transformation through minimal yet meaningful interventions. It is the most tangible and visionary form of contemporary regeneration.” – Lombardini22
At Lombardini22, urban acupuncture is a key methodology in our approach to shaping resilient, human-centered cities. Experiences like the CityTree in Bari show how reimagining even a single urban corner can generate a ripple effect of positive change that extends well beyond the intervention’s footprint.
Photos: GCS
Efficient Cooling for Urban Spaces
Extreme heatwaves are shaping summers worldwide, becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged due to climate change. In the summer of 2022, we initiated tests and comparisons using a FLIR thermal imaging camera, an infrared thermometer, and the integrated sensors in the CityTree.
In Bari, the thermal imaging camera was also deployed in 2023 to conduct a stress test at an extreme location and evaluate the performance of the regenerative and intelligent moss filter. Extreme temperatures, which heat surfaces to over 50°C, pose a significant challenge for people, nature, and infrastructure. The targeted use of moss, which emits around 30% less heat at 35.9°C, can provide much-needed relief.
Photos: GCS
Bari’s CityTree is a powerful example of how nature-based solutions can make our cities cleaner, cooler, and more livable. Stay tuned!