The Role of Green Walls in Architecture Today

Green walls are a new trend in the built environment. They have a number of benefits and functions in urban environments. Learn about the role and benefits of green walls/facades in architecture today.

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The Role of Green Walls in Architecture Today
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Introduction
Green walls are also known as vertical gardens or plant walls which grow on vertical
structures having different types of plants or other greenery vegetation attached on them
(Mustonen, 2017). The greenery require growth medium which include soil, water, or stone. In
most cases, the green wall technology is usually installed with built-in irrigation system. Green
walls have become a new trend in the built environment in the recent years. Incorporating the
green nature into the urban environments is not only welcoming by giving a warm feeling, but
also have a number of benefits and functions in such environments (Wood, Bahrami & Safarik,
2014)
Figure 1: Sihlcity Shopping Centre Living Façade by Jakob Rope
Source: https://omrania.com/insights/green-walls-how-technology-brings-nature-into-
architecture/

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The role and benefits of green walls/facades
Essentially, green walls are used to liven up a space. To begin with, the visual benefits of
green facades cannot be ignored. The green plants have a huge impact on decorating the urban
spaces built with brick and concrete thus creating new alternatives ideas for urban agriculture,
indoor decoration and gardening (Mustonen, 2017).
Benefits of green facades to people
Green walls with plants scientifically proven makes human being more productive and happier
beings since they appeal more to the innate needs of us living around nature. Shifting natural
elements to our living spaces generally lifts up our mood, making us more lively and alert at all
time. This concept is normally referred us biophilia (Mustonen, 2017).
According to Wong and Baldwin (2016), studies have also proven that nature in itself can
depress the negative behaviors such as anxiety and aggression. In addition, connection with
nature have been used as a means to reduce stress and restore mental fatigue. This is because the
human body and mind have a positive influence of reacting positively to natural elements around
us.

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Figure 2: Green elements reduce stress and fatigue.
Source: https://www.naava.io/editorial/what-are-green-walls
The controversial debates on achieving good air quality and means of controlling
pollution in the built industry have been successful using the green facades. According to
science, plants can be used as a mechanism to purify the air around us through the process of
microbes of plant roots. With an improved air quality, it has been proven that it not only have a
direct impact on health but also advance alertness in people and cognitive abilities (Mustonen,
2017). However, this purification effect can only be achieved if there is active air circulation
since the supporting technology of walls and plants are mainly designed for this particular
purpose.

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Building friendly features
Outdoor green wall facades are used as a cost effective energy element since plants have been
proven to reduce building temperatures coming from the sun. Moreover, plants also reduce the
heat loss from the indoor temperature during winter (Bogaczewicz, 2018). The transpiration
process of the indoor plants can also slightly regulate the indoor temperature by reducing the
heat hence also acting as a solution to energy cost effective (Mustonen, 2017).
Aesthetic
Indoor green wall facades can also be used for aesthetic reason in our house and offices. This is
because plants are used to brighten a specific space by making it more lively and appealing to the
eye.
Figure 3: A wide living wall at the Ministry of Environment, Finland
Source: https://www.naava.io/editorial/what-are-green-walls

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In conclusion, indeed green wall facades have different role in architecture such as
purification of the indoor temperature to achieve thermal comfort, to achieve sustainability
through saving the costs of energy, and for aesthetical and artistic work by improving the quality
of the building facades.

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References
Bogaczewicz, P. (2018, July 25). Green Walls: How Technology Brings Nature Into
Architecture. Retrieved from Omrania: https://omrania.com/insights/green-walls-how-
technology-brings-nature-into-architecture/
Mustonen, T. (2017, July 24). What are Green Walls - the definition, benefits, design and
greenery. Retrieved from Naava: https://www.naava.io/editorial/what-are-green-walls
Wong, I., & Baldwin, A. N. (2016). Investigating the potential of applying vertical green walls to
high-rise residential buildings for energy-saving in sub-tropical region. Building and
Environment, 97, 34-39.
Wood, A., Bahrami, P., & Safarik, D. (2014). Green walls in high-rise buildings: An output of
the CTBUH sustainability working group. Images Publishing.