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Inspiration Card
Nature Based Solution
Green Walls

N6 Green Facades

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Challenges
Climate Resilience Water Management Natural and Climate Hazards Biodiversity Enhancement Air Quality Health and Well-being Social Justice and Social Cohesion
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Description

Planted walls with controlled cultivation are called green facades. Green facades can be divided into two main categories – façade-bound and ground-based greenings. Façade-bound greening use planted panels or containers that are elevated and fixed to the façade. Ground-based greenings are established using climbing vegetation that is planted in the ground and then grows directly up the wall, or climbs on a frame that is connected to the wall. Both types of green facades offer many benefits including reduction of air pollution, thermal insulation for buildings and biodiversity support via habitat provision and connectivity improvement.

Conditions for Implementation
  • Facades with plenty of sun exposure and in areas with mild climatic conditions tend to preform best
  • Potential need for irrigation system to help avoid fire-risk
  • Appropriate plant selection
  • Care from professional gardeners (especially for façade bound greening) is necessary
Similar Terminology
Façade-Bound greening
Ground-Based greening
Green wall
Living wall
Vertical greening systems (VGS)
Performance
    Cooling Service Transpiration ● ● ○
    Shading ○ ○ ○
    Evaporation ○ ○ ○
    Building (Insulation) ● ● ○
    Reflection (Albedo) ○ ○ ○
    Surface Water Regulation Water Conveyance ○ ○ ○
    Water Infiltration ○ ○ ○
    Water Retention ○ ○ ○
    Water Storage ○ ○ ○
    Water Reuse ○ ○ ○
    Water Purification Water Filtering ○ ○ ○
    Water Bio-remediation ○ ○ ○
    Air Purification and Noise Reduction Deposition ● ○ ○
    Air Biofiltration ● ○ ○
    Noise Reduction ○ ○ ○
    Biodiversity Habitat Provision ● ○ ○
    Connectivity ● ○ ○
    Socio-Cultural Services Beauty / Appearance ● ● ○
    Usability / Functionality ● ○ ○
    Social Interaction ○ ○ ○
    Education ○ ○ ○
    Provisioning Service Food / Energy / Material ○ ○ ○
    Climate Regulation CO2 Sequestration ● ○ ○