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COURSE:
NATIONAL ADVANCED SCHOOL OF PUBLIC WORKS
Yaoundé

TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE
Prof. Umberto Turrini

LESSON 20: GREEN WALL

Sustainable construction technologies: green facade and living wall

Prof. Arch. Giovanni Santi (UniPi)

VERTICAL EXTERIOR
ENCLOUSE

and
EXTERIOR WALLS
AND GLASS FRAMES

2
TECHNOLOGICAL CLASS TECHNOLOGICAL UNIT CLASS OF TECHNICAL ELEMENTS

SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

FOUNDATION STRUCTURE
DEPP FOUNDATIONS

VERTICAL ELVATION STRUCTURE

STRUCTURE ELEVATION STRUCTURE

HORIZONTAL ELEVATION STRUCTURE

SPATIAL ELEVATION STRUCTURE

VERTICAL STRUCTURE
RETAINIG WALLS STRUCTURE HORIZONTAL STRUCTURE

VERTICAL EXTERIOR ENCLOUSE EXTERIOR WALLS

AND GLASS FRAMES
EXTERIOR HORIZONTAL INFERIOR ENCLOUSE GROUND FLOOR
ENCLOLUSE
HORIZONTAL ENCLOUSE ON OPEN
OUTSIDE SPACES FLOOR ON OPEN SPACES

HORIZONTAL SUPERIOR ENCLOUSE ROOFS and HORIZONTAL GLASS

FRAMES

3
 Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey

THE OTHER SIDE (L'ALTRO LATO) 1999

Bussana Vecchia - San Remo (IM)

 Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey

LIFE DRAWING 2004 Mausoleo in Grand City Cemetery, in Riga, Lettonia

 Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey

HSBC - Wimbledon Artwork 2008

The application of greenery systems integrated in architecture, in the green
Technology field, and in particular systems integrated with the building envelope,
both orizontal like green roofs (GR), or vertical, as green walls (GW) and living
walls (LW), can be found more often in new constructions. They are sometimes
considered as retrofit instruments for existing buildings.
By the way it is exactly with the latter application that they can contribute to
improve the enviromental sustainability on both on urban and architectural scale.
That is the reason why they can be considered among the green infrastructures
(GI) promoted by European Commission
Using green as a microclimatic control tool for urban spaces, it is possible to have:
• air purification
• noise mitigation
• microclimatic variations (temperature, humidity, windiness)
• reduction of the incident solar radiation on buildings shaded by vegetation
• antiseptic action
• soil defense
• water purification
• biodiversity conservation
• psychological function
A TURF

- promotes a good microclimate

- produces humidity
- 300 sq/m produce in a year the quantity of oxygen necessary for the breathing
of two adults, it reduces a quantity of carbon dioxide equal to that produced by a
Fiat Punto which covers 20,000 km
Since the first studies in this field, it has been possible to appreciate the positive effects of GR, GW and LW at Urban
Scales, such as the reduction of the Urban Heat Island effect (UHI), the mitigation of the Urban Canyon [2]
temperatures, the absorption of the particulates and the noxious substance in the air, the oxigen production and the
relative absorption of CO2, in addition to the protection against the erosion due to atmospheric agents and climatic
phenomena.
It is also significant the positive effect on single buildings, on thermal dispersion (40% of the Energy Consumption in
Europe is absorbed by existing buildings), on the natural cooling of the interiors and exteriors of the building and the
acoustic mitigation of the noises. This is confirmed also by the results of the energy consumption of the residential and
commercial buildings in the United States which in 2016 reached 39.6% of the total usage of the Country.
In addition to that, it is already certain that green buildings consume about 70% of the energy in compare with
traditional ones.
The relation between Green Buildings and efficient energy use in construction industry, is also evaluated by the
principal standards such as LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (USA), BREEAM, Building
Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (UK), Green Building Label (China), and the Italian
standard ITACA.
They analyze several parameters: energy, pollution, water, health and wellness, ecology and waste.
EXPLANATIONS
Museo di Quai Branly
37, quai Branly; 75007 Paris; www.quaibranly.fr

Architect : atelier Jean Nouvel

http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/
mode 1
 mode 1

Patrick Blanc
http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/

The system is made up of three parts: a layer of PVC, a layer of felt and a wire mesh, a self-supporting, earthless system
which can also be suspended in the air. The plants grow according to the principles of hydroponics, on a coat of
polyamide felt supported by a PVC and metal frame in which water enriched with fertilizers flows. Each wall has its own
automatic irrigation system and its plant composition is designed to make the most of the necessary artificial light (in the
case of indoor installations and in dark places) or natural light, for "en plein air" projects.
 mode 1

Patrick Blanc's wall features sheaths above the support plastic panels. Any condensation phenomena that
could form between the infill and the panels can be assessed (air space generated by the horizontal
support bars in the absence of ventilation)
 sistema 1 / mode 1

Caixa Forum
Madrid 2008

Architects : Herzog & de Meuron

 sistema 1 / mode 1

Hotel du Département in Hauts-de-Seine, France

Patrick Blanc
 sistema 1 / mode 1

Siam Paragon, Shopping Mall Bangkok

Patrick Blanc

giovanni santi architetto PhD D.E.S.T.eC. – UNIPI.

23
 mode 2

Vegetalis® greenwall (Francia) http://www.greenwall.fr/

It is a system for creating ”green walls" or "vertical gardens" through the aid of modules
containing biovegetal material

The structural system is composed of container modules called GREENBOX® in

steel mesh with the function of:
Vegetable medium called Bio® for the growth and maintenance of plants;
GREENBOX® is hooked to the steel supporting structure anchored to the wall

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES : ISOTHERMAL AND

PROTECTIVE POWER

Vegetalis® walls, which are irrigated, protect the

walls of buildings from sunlight, allow to naturally
refresh of the master walls (from –7 to — 15 )
thus improving the thermal balance of a building,
energy consumption can therefore be significantly
reduced both in summer and in winter.
 mode 2

• Advantages in outdoor applications:

Thermal insulation, with variable values according to the substrate used

Sound insulation / absorption

Absorption of fine dust and harmful substances in the air

Oxygen production - CO2 absorption

Lowering of the surrounding temperature thanks to the transpiration activity of the plants

Protection of surfaces from UV rays and erosion due to climatic phenomena.

Reduction of the runoff coefficients of rainwater

Redevelopment of buildings
Vegetalis® greenwall (France)

- The plant species used are mainly succulent and ground cover plants.
- In summary, the system is similar to Patrick Blanc's "plant wall" system
- The full growth program after placement is an average of one year
- The irrigation system is similar to current hydroculture systems and does not present particular elements of
innovation.

Murs végétalis®
Overall thickness: from 150mm to 180mm depending on the case
Weight: about 45 to 70 kg / m2 depending on humidity. (from 25 to 35kg / m2 new and not wet)
27
28
29
30
 Cultivation of green box

Uprights and iron mesh layed on

core/wall/iron self- loadbering strcture

laying
 mode 3

G-Sky (Canada/US) http://www.greenrooftops.com/

The structural system is composed of container panels, made up of box-like elements having different technical
functions.

Box-shaped frame in stainless steel, from hook onto the supporting structure behind, with the function of:
- plastic medium containing plants
- non-woven fire resistant coating

32
33
 mode 3

Dimensions of the panel: mm 300x300x100 mm

G-Sky (Canada/US)

The species of plants used are mainly decorative foliage shrubs

(euonymus celastraceae jap. albomarginatus used for hedges or fence elements)
and ground cover plants (hedera or gaultheria procumbens).

The plant system is therefore similar to hedge plants placed vertically in container modules.

The system maintenance and inspection program is very frequent in the first year of installation (up to 17
annual inspections). The system is guaranteed by a one-year contract.

The irrigation system is similar to current systems in use of hydroculture and not presents particular
elements of innovation
 Leisure Complex in Amsterdam
Sportplaza Mercator

Architect Venhoeven CS-Architects

http://www.venhoevencs.nl

giovanni santi architetto PhD D.E.S.T.eC. – UNIPI.

Leisure Complex in Amsterdam
Sportplaza Mercator

Architect Venhoeven CS-Architects

http://www.venhoevencs.nl
 mode 4

The profile of the building consists of

two stepped elements of different
shapes, connected together only on
the first two levels; its volumetric
structure is based on the aggregation
of a series of cubic modules of 360 cm
each side. This structure is reproduced
on the outside with a green metal
frame, which performs the double
function of support for climbing plants
and downpipes. A fundamental feature
of the building is the double facade
which guarantees thermal well-being
and energy savings with the support of
technological systems managed by a
sophisticated automation system.

uffici snam
san donato milanese
1985 Milano

Architects : gabetti & isola

 mode 5

the project consists of two residential towers, which

house around 900 trees of 3 and 9 meters in height
and plants of different essence, distributed in relation to
the sun exposure of each facade of the towers.
Advantages of vertical green:
it constitutes a microclimate
produces moisture and oxygen
absorbs CO2 and fine dust
protects from radiation in summer
let the light pass in winter
shelters from the wind
mitigates noise pollution

This architectural solution will bring advantages, such

as the creation of a microclimate, the absorption of
CO2 and fine particles. The photovoltaic energy
system will contribute to increasing the degree of self-
sufficiency of the two towers.

“bosco vertical”
progetto
Quartiere Isola , Milano

Architect : stefano boeri, milano

http://www.stefanoboeri.net/
 mode 6

Sistema 6 Punto ® TECOLOGY (Italia)

http://www.tecology.it

•Plant material: first example of a "ready-made lawn" used for vertical surfaces.

The irrigation system is comparable to current hydroculture systems, allows a

significant simplification of the system, facilitating its implementation and ensuring
complete inspection
Green Cities Sistema : Tecology - 6 Punto progettista : Progetto Suk
 mode 6

parete test – sistema 6 Punto / Tecology

c/o ortovivaistica pacini metato (pisa)

The facade is a typical Rain Water Screen, or a barrier to atmospheric agents, not waterproof, but certainly suitable for
shielding the walls from rains, even in strong winds.

To have a watertight seal, the system can be completed with seals and components that can be designed and supplied if
required as needed

It is possible to interpose on the supporting walls of the sheaths, preferably geotextiles, breathable from the inside and
waterproof to the outside, which, however, must be laid according to specific requirements, otherwise their seal is relative.
 mode 6

BIOCLIMATIC FUNCTIONS OF THE SYSTEM

Test energetici condotti sulla parete test.

1.Source: Giovanni Santi, Green living walls, i sistemi di inverdimento verticale integrati all’involucro
edilizio: schermatura solare, termoregolazione e produzione di ossigeno, in “Il sole a
trecentosessantagradi”, mensile della ISES Italia – Sezione dell’International Solar Energy Society – Roma,
Anno XVII – n 2 Febbraio 2010, pp. 16-17.
mode 6
 mode 7

The outermost facade consists

of a "green skin", made with a
steel grid on which climbing
essences grow, thus creating
a compact front for the entire
length of the building and also
turning on the side facades
until recovering with the
prospect on the The system,
being permeable by air and
light, allows to consider the
distribution balconies as
external places.

Edificio per uffici

Rimini, 2007

Architects : mario cucinella

 Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey

TIGER GRASS COAT 1991