If the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were among the 7 wonders of the ancient world, maybe there will be a spot for the traveling gardens soon to be added to Madrid's city buses.
A pilot project on the city's two busiest bus lines and on bus shelter roofs is among the 6 winners in a contest that drew 800 proposals for improving the city. According to the project manager, “Each garden will be formed of metallic meshes and sustainable materials that can withstand movement and not leak water. The idea is for them to soak up noise, heat and pollution,”
The cost per bus is about €2500, and somewhat less for the shelters. Madrid's new left-leaning city government has promised attention to the city's pollution problems. Other, temporary measures, have included traffic restrictions on busy shopping streets during the Christmas rush.
The gardens aren't completely new: a company called PhytoKinetic has systems running in Barcelona, Girona and Palma de Mallorca.
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