Designboom_ The Greenhouse Buses project by Emilio Alarcón aims to transform intercity mobility by turning electric buses into mobile greenhouses addressing the challenges of global warming and the lack of green spaces in cities. The digital art series proposes the utilization of the available space inside buses for growing plants, shrubs, and small trees, and their conversion into itinerant oases in the middle of urban environments. The project is achieved through a careful iterative process utilizing the popular artificial intelligence platform, Midjourney.

Buses’ enclosed structures allow for a controlled greenhouse-like environment as sunlight can penetrate through transparent or translucent bubbles made of materials such as glass, ethylene teflon, or polycarbonate, providing plants with the necessary amount of light for photosynthesis. Technical considerations play a big part in ensuring the successful operation of greenhouse buses. Proper ventilation systems are essential to regulate temperature and humidity, preventing heat and moisture build-up that could negatively impact plant growth. Anchoring systems are also necessary to secure the plants to the bus body or structure, ensuring safety and minimizing vibration issues.

Various growing methods can be employed, such as hydroponics, where plants grow in nutrient solutions instead of traditional substrates. Lightweight substrates can also be used to minimize additional weight caused by plants and containers. Beyond their aesthetic appeal and creation of green spaces in cities, greenhouse buses have the potential to reduce environmental impact, shares the multidisciplinary creative. The increased vegetation helps absorb carbon dioxide and improves air quality.

These mobile green spaces can also function as mini-parks, offering a more pleasant and natural environment for passengers and pedestrians. During hot days, windows and top openings of the greenhouse buses can be opened to allow air circulation, maintaining a suitable temperature and preventing overheating of the plants. It is also important to create acclimatized areas for passengers’ comfort. Buses of various sizes, from double-decker buses to minibuses, can be adapted for this purpose. Maintenance by professional gardeners will be required, primarily for irrigation and disease and pest control.