SPraying would be a pain... could u imagine plum curculio 50 stories up?> Japanese Beetles...only good tihng is if you can keep the bugs from laying eggs int eh soil, they shouldn't be a big problem.

Not bad, ..another way to clean the air.
Probably no fruit trees are allowed up there, berries yes.

Looks cool, will cause more problems than it's worth.

I think the trees will get a squared off look eventually as they get sheared at the top where the next balcony starts. Around here, they trim the tops of ficus flat to stay out of the power lines. They could take the time to thin them and keep a pretty shape on top but it's faster and cheaper to shear them flat so that's how they look. Now what I think would be nice is horizontal connectors between the buildings with plants trailing down or used as a shade tunnel. I always liked the futuristic space station/ lunar colony drawings with the arboretum in the bubble. Who is going to re pot the trees in a few years? That would a challenge.

While we're all dreaming of the fantastic, here's a Gilbert Williams painting for the fun of it.

Franktank, I know you were kidding but I think it is actually much easier to grow fruit in the city because of the lack of pests. PC can't overwinter on asphalt.

The best Bing cherries I ever ate were from a terrace in NYC from a huge old tree growing in the dirt courtyard below. I know they never sprayed the thing.

AFAIK there is no PC in Europe, certainly none in UK. The Italians are past masters at container growing and tree training. I think they can do it - and there is no mention in the article that they are contemplating fruit trees, only trees and 'greenery'.

What a mess if everyone has a different idea of what they want planted. This would have to be hands-off for the residents. It's a pain to wash window on sky-scrapers; imagine trimming trees! Look out below.