Billboards host bamboo installations creating unlikely gardens
Drivers in Los Angeles are being treated to the unusual sight of lush bamboo waving from billboards they are used to seeing hovering above them. In addition to making the drive a bit more pleasant with the hardy greenery, the bamboo will also be cleaning the air.
This unique sustainability project called "Urban Air" comes from LA based sculptor Stephen Glassman and a collection of partners. The plan is to launch these floating gardens that will help process the carbon dioxide from cars below into oxygen, making a dent in cleaning up and beautifying urban areas. After a prototype launch in LA, the team hopes to make DIY kits that would enable other cities to launch the same kind of effort.
Glassman's idea won a 2011 London International Creativity Award, and following that he was able to gain support from Summit Media, a Los Angeles billboard company. They agreed to donate some prominent billboard space in the LA area to launch the prototype.
Following this support Glassman has brought on board billboard manufacturers, engineers, bamboo growers and plumbers to make the concept a reality with existing technology, while also working on a track to make the plan easily transportable and replicated in other cities.
Urban Air has taken to Kickstarter to help fund some of the initial costs beyond the donated billboard space. If the expansion plan is successful you just might see one of these living green billboards on your commute.
