300886 Construction in Practice: Green Garden Facade Assemblies Report

This report provides a detailed analysis of 'Green Garden' facade assemblies for residential flats, focusing on construction planning and sustainable building practices. It begins with an introduction to green facades, highlighting their historical context and environmental benefits, such as improved insul...Read More

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CONSTRUCTION PLANNING
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

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"GREEN GARDEN" FACADE ASSEMBLIES FOR RESIDENTIAL FLATS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
The ‘Green Garden’ Façade.............................................................................................................3
The ‘Green Garden’ Façade options................................................................................................3
Benefits of green facades and the living walls................................................................................5
Environmental benefit......................................................................................................................5
Community and social benefits........................................................................................................7
Economic benefits............................................................................................................................8
Sustainable benefits.........................................................................................................................9
Disadvantages Of green garden facades..........................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11
Introduction

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Throughout history the greening of the roof and the outside walls of buildings has taken place.
There are many reason behind this practice which include; improving the insulation,
enhance the outdoor and indoor climate , improve the building aesthetic, increasing the
ecological values through the provision of habitats for insects and birds as well as reducing
the greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (Forsyth, 2015, p. 422).
Over the past years the substitution of the green surfaces with the impervious surfaces in
urban areas has led to an increased temperatures as compared to the temperature levels in
rural areas. This is because the paved surface absorbs, retains and radiates more solar energy
than grass and trees (Walter Leal Filho, 2017, p. 328). From the past studies which have been
carried out the ambient temperature in urban areas can be 6oC warmer than rural areas.
‘Green garden’ facades is very important practice in improving of the built environment’s
sustainability. This practice is also very ecological and aesthetically acceptable as an
adequate architectural feature which improves the overall appearance and performance of
the facades. Green gardens facades are very important for the overall improvement of
sustainability of the built environment. The adoption of the green garden facades is also
aesthetically and ecologically acceptable as an adequate architectural feature which improved
the facades. Furthermore their exploitation results to an energy conscious design which is
able to prevent densely populated urban areas from becoming deteriorated natural
environment.
The ‘Green Garden’ Façade
The term ‘green garden’ facades refers to the system whereby plants are grown on vertical
surfaces of the building such as the building walls. The plants are grown in a much organized

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manner and systematic upkeep. In most cases the climbing plants grow naturally on the
building facades by attaching themselves directly to the walls through different techniques. Self-
supporting and self-climbing climbers can either attach themselves directly to the façade or grow
along the façade without any support (Schnadelbach, 2012, p. 37). The main items of the green
walls are the plants, the plants media, supporting structures which support or attach the plant to
the façade and the irrigation system which depends on the design of the façade.
The ‘Green Garden’ Façade options
There are many options of green garden facades which are currently available in Australia and
the worldwide market. Some of the available options includes;
i) Modular trellis panel system
The structural block of this modular system is usually a solid, lightweight, 3D panel which are
made from a powered coated galvanized and welded steel wire which has ability to support
plants with two faces grid panels depth (McGuire, 2010, p. 94). In most cases this system is
designed to hold the green garden off the wall so that the plants do not append to the building,
offering a captive growing condition for plants which have many tendrils. The figure below is
an illustration of the modular trellis panel system.

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Fig 1: modular trellis panels
ii) Vegetated mat wall
The ‘ mur vegetal’ is not a common form of the green garden facades . In this form of the
green garden facades, the plants are normally supported by two layers of the synthetic fabric
pockets. All the fabric walls are later associated with the greater frame which is located on top of
the wall surface which is layered with waterproof membrane in order to prevent from damage to
the existing wall because of the high moisture content (Kornwolf & Kornwolf, 2015, p. 267).
The figure below is an example of the vegetated mat wall.
Fig 2: Mur Vegetal' designed
iii) Green Screen (modular living wall)
This option of the green garden facades is normally inspired by the system of the green roof
which makes uses units as a mean to support the growth of plants. In this system, the plants are
normally supported by many panels which are of rectangular and square in shape as shown in
the figure below.

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Fig 3: Modular living walls plant
Benefits of green facades and the living walls
There numerous advantages for implementing the green garden facades. The use of the green
garden facades has a great potential for positive environmental changes in the urban areas
which are heavily populated urban areas, specifically on the large surface area of the
buildings which are readily available for the retrofitting to green garden facades (Goldstein,
2010, p. 18).
Environmental benefit
i) Increasing energy efficiency in buildings
Green garden façade technology will assist buildings become more energy efficient and at
the same time to reduce the urban heat island effect, reduce carbon emission and also

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absorb storm water as illustrated in the figure below.
It plays the role of protective barrier which offers better solar protection which can greatly
assist in reducing the effect of the external load and the cooling need (Plowright & Gamper,
2017, p. 562). From the past studies which have been carried out it has been concluded that
the green garden facades greatly reduces the heat gain and their surface temperature is
normally lower than an exposed wall.
ii) Sound insulation
In urban environment , the green garden facades have for a long time been used as a baffle
against urban noise. The plants which makes up the green garden façade, soil and the trapped
layer of air can both absorb, deflect or reflect sound waves. So, green garden façade have a
very strong insulation which is then up to 30n db than that of the normal walls, the figure
below

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The level of sound insulation offers by the green garden facades depends mainly on the
elements which affects the amount of noise reduction which includes the depth of the
growing media , the types of plants which are contained in the green garden façade and
the different materials which used for the structural components of the living wall system,
and the layer of the air which exists between the plant and the wall. In terms of controlling
sound , the implementation of the green garden façade approach will depend mainly on the
site where the building with the green garden façade is located, climate conditions and the
activities carried out in the buildings (Walter Leal Filho, 2017, p. 65).
Community and social benefits
i) Aesthetic influences
The application of the vertical garden is greatly influenced technique of transforming the urban
landscape, by the use of advanced technology and advanced material to promote sustainable
development. The creative role of the Green garden facades as an architectural solution to
transform implement greenery factors for the restoration of the old buildings greatly
contributes in improvement of the overall aesthetic aseptic of the urban environment .

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Based on the perform research which have carried out to determine the esthetic effects and the
degree of the perceived restoration which may be performed by putting the green garden
façade onto the building , integrated green garden wall with buildings were more preferred
and considered more beautiful , esthetically appealing and restorative than those without
vegetation. Also, the significance of adequate section of plant species in the implementation of a
green garden façade
ii) Social Implications
Residing in urban areas where there is traffic, noise pollution has a negative impact on the
physical and mental wellness. Availability of green gardens helps in softening the hard urban
environment , through the provision of the substantial and spiritual connection to nature
which is absent in majority of the urban environment, According to the scientific studies
which have been carried out , availability of green gardens reduces the stress levels of
individuals as well It helps in giving a positive physiological responses. Also, the green garden
promotes human health and wellbeing, which results to an increased human creativity and
productivity (Goldstein, 2010, p. 84).
Economic benefits
The returns of the green garden facades may be seen to be obvious from the general view, the
economic benefits which are associated with the environmental benefits of the green garden
facades. To realize the economic benefits of the green garden facades through the application
plants and other types of vegetation around the building, which directly helps in reducing the
climate stress, protects the construction integrity which results to longevity of the buildings.
Also, the utilization of the vertical gardens has played aver important role in reducing the

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environmental impacts on the building facades hence, which greatly contributes to the
reduction in the energy consumption of the buildings.
Sustainable benefits
Prospective development refers to a social -ecological operation which in most cases is
distinguished by the fulfillment of the human needs at the same time maintaining the quality
of the natural environment. The architects, engineers, town planners and manufacturers of the
construction materials are responsible of performing the prospective development. These
professionals can work as a team to create buildings which are designed built and operated in
an ecological manner. Green architecture is a design approach which ensures that buildings and
local systems. The adoption of the green Garden facades increases energy efficiency and at the
same time reduces the effects of buildings on the environment and the overall human health.
Therefore, the contribution of the green garden facades in buildings enhances economic, social
and environmental aspects since the green garden facades covers issues such as energy saving,
sustainability, water efficiency, air quality and acoustics and helps in promoting the overall
human wellbeing, health and satisfaction.
Disadvantages Of green garden facades
The green garden facades have a few risks as compared to the benefits which are obtained.
Some of the disadvantages includes;
i) Maintenance frequency and difficult
The green garden facades required to be maintained regularly since they are living systems. The
maintenance frequency of this systems usually depends on the nature and type of the green
garden façade, types of plants and climatic conditions. Carrier panels and isolation materials

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which are used in green garden facades generally resists environmental conditions. Due to that
the maintenance of this facades is generally related to irrigation systems and plant diversity. But
in the scenarios where there is a damaged isolation material or carrier panel, they must be
regularly changed which makes the overall maintenance process to be very expensive and
complex at the same time.
ii) High cost
The construction of the green garden facades involves the acquisition of expensive elements as
compared to the elements which are used in the construction of ordinally facades. Some of the
elements which cost a lot of resources include;
 Carrier profile
 Isolation material
 Drainage systems
 Plant species
 Plant growth Media
 Irrigation system components
iii) Irrigation system problems
Mostly the drip irrigation system which has an automatic timing device is applied in
irrigating the green garden facades. Different various in the irrigation system would cause
troubles in terms of time and cost. Due to that regular maintenance should be carried out
with the controls of the irrigation systems and in particular, measures to be taken against frost
in irrigation system in regions which experiences winter (Kornwolf & Kornwolf, 2015, p.
385). Controlling the amount and distribution of nutrients during irrigation is very essential

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since the green garden in the south facades will require more water than in the northern
facades due to the difference in the rates of evaporation.
Conclusion
The increase in the urban population directly leads to an increase in the rate of construction,
with the increased number of buildings, the area covered by green spaces continue to reduce
day by day, which has resulted to many environmental problems. As a result of that many
studies have been carried out to find solution to that problems, the idea of green garden
facades emerged as one of the best solutions for that problem. In the green garden facades
nature is integrated into the vertical planes and the urban areas are slowly becoming darker
day by day.
As part of this study it has been found out that the ‘Green Garden’ facades not only have
merits but also have demerits. Some of the benefits of the green garden facades includes
contributing to the energy efficiency in urban areas and enhancement of the overall aesthetic
of the urban buildings. When considering the limitations of the green garden facades, they
are expensive to construct and maintain.
References
Forsyth, H. K., 2015. Gardens of Eden: Among the World's Most Beautiful Gardens. 2nd ed.
London: The Miegunyah Press,.

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Goldstein, W. E., 2010. Sick Building Syndrome and Related Illness: Prevention and
Remediation of Mold Contamination. 5th ed. London: CRC Press.
Kornwolf, J. D. & Kornwolf, G. W., 2015. Architecture and Town Planning in Colonial North
America. 3rd ed. Texas: Johns Hopkins University Press.
McGuire, D. K., 2010. Beatrix Farrand's Plant Book for Dumbarton Oaks. 1st ed. Paris:
Dumbarton Oaks.
Plowright, P. & Gamper, B., 2017. Considering Research: Reflecting Upon Current Themes in
Architectural Research. 6th ed. London: Lulu.com.
Schnadelbach, T., 2012. Hidden Lives / Secret Gardens: The Florentine Villas Gamberaia, La
Pietra and I Tatti. 4th ed. Texas: iUniverse,.
Walter Leal Filho, 2017. Climate Change Adaptation in North America: Fostering Resilience
and the Regional Capacity to Adapt. 1st ed. Chicago: Springer, .