Vertical gardens, widely known as “green walls”, are the latest in landscape architecture and horticulture in general. By using only real plants, we aim to improve the energy, aesthetic and environmental performance of the building and the interior space. In addition to the aesthetic upgrading of the building and the surrounding area, vertical gardens have many environmental and economic advantages.
- Initially it has been shown that they contribute to the thermal insulation of the building since the air trapped in the plant material creates an insulating layer. In addition, in summer the plants’ strong evaporation and the shading they provide keep the temperature of the building lower than it would be in the absence of the vertical garden. In winter, the plant material prevents the cold air from cooling the building. This automatically improves the energy efficiency of the building and reduces the cost of heating and cooling it. At the urban level, a network of buildings with vertical gardens and planted roofs would help to reduce the urban heat island effect.
- The sound insulation that the vertical garden provides to the building is also important, especially for buildings located in busy urban areas. The use of plant material to reduce noise is well known and frequently used, for example on motorways, railway lines, etc. In the case of vertical gardens, the sound insulation is not only due to the plant material but also to the means of plant growth.
- Vertical gardens help to clean the atmosphere as a significant amount of microparticles are trapped in the plant material and growing medium. They also protect the interior of the building from external air pollutants and dust as they act as filters, thus improving the air quality inside the building. Vertical gardens also directly protect the building itself. In addition to reducing temperature variation, which is largely responsible for material deterioration, they protect the building’s structural materials from exposure to UV radiation.
- Finally, it is worth noting the contribution of vertical gardens to improving the quality of life. There are many studies demonstrating the positive impact of greenery on the mental and physical health of citizens. All the more so when new vegetation is integrated into the landscape through a well-designed and aesthetically enhanced project!