Dive Brief:

• The builders of Clearpoint Residencies in Kotte, Sri Lanka, say their 164-apartment building will become the world's tallest vertical garden when they finish building in 2016.
• The 610-foot building is to have densely planted terraces circling the entire structure, with the greenery watered by a wastewater central drip irrigation system. The plants are designed to be thick enough to prevent direct sunlight from hitting and windows and heating the building.
• Rooftop solar is supposed to provide enough power for central systems, including a wastewater treatment plant and the building's elevators.

Dive Insight:

This green giant, a joint venture of architecture company Milroy Perera Associates and Maga Engineering, is to have 2,300-square-foot apartments. The greenery is designed to give everyone a sense of living at ground level, although it's unclear how much of a selling point that is for people who want to live in a high-rise. In addition to watering plants, the recycled water system will flush toilets with shower and sink water, cutting demand for outside water by 45%.