GREEN WALLS
Green wall at the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana in the historic
center of Mexico City
GREEN WALLS
Green walls can be defined as a
vertical Structure that have
different types of Plants or other
type of Vegetation attached to
them .
Greenery is planted in a Growth
Medium consisting of Soil , Stone or
Water .
Since Green walls have living Plants
in them they usually include an
integrated Hydration and
Fertigation delivery system .
Also referred to as Living Walls or
Vertical Gardens create and sustain Caixa Forum near Atocha station,
many beneficial Ecosystems . Madrid
GREEN WALLS VS GREEN FACADES
Green walls differ from Green Facades that often grow on the
vertical face of the outside walls of Buildings. Green Facades
have Growth medium only at the Base either in a container or as
a Ground Bed , whereas in Green Walls the Growth Medium is on
the surface or the structure of the wall.
Green Facades support climbing plants that grow on the vertical
face of the Host wall while Green Walls can accommodate a
variety of plant species .
Greenery of Facades may take a long time to grow enough to
cover an entire Wall, whereas Green Walls can be pre - grown on
off site locations .
SMART AND ACTIVE GREEN WALLS
Green may be implanted Indoors or Outdoors , as freestanding
installations or attached to a existing Host Wall. and may be
customised as per site Dimensions.
Smart and active green walls use artificial intelligence and
technology and the features can be monitored, automated and
enhancing the effect.
Apart from Visual and Biophilic benefits all Green Walls ,
Smart & Active Green walls can feature natural air purification
& humidification .
FUNCTIONS OF GREEN WALLS
Green walls and plants help in reducing over all temperatures of the Buildings .
Primary cause of the heat build up is Insolation , the absorption of solar radiation by
roads and Buildings in the city and storage of heat in the building material and its
subsequent re- radiation . Plant surface do not rise more than 4-5 degree C above
ambient and are some times cooler as a result of transpiration .
Help reduce the temperature of a building as Vegetation absorbs large amount of
Solar radiation .
FUNCTIONS & BENEFITS
Provide an additional layer of
Insulation and protect buildings
from Heavy rainwater which
leads to management of heavy
storm water and provide
Thermal mass .
Means for water reuse and
recycling as plants can purify
slightly polluted water such as
Grey Water .
Living walls could also function
for urban agriculture and urban
gardening.
Plant matters can also helpSimon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
reduce noise and act as sound
BIOPHILIC BENEFITS
• Humans need to be around nature and bringing in natural elements to
places where they can't be generally seen lifts moods , makes people more
alert and upbeat , this concept is known as Biophilia.
• Nature can help reduce negative behaviour, aggression , and anxiety .
• Also reduce stress and mental fatigue .
• Sometimes built indoors can help alleviate " Sick Building Syndrome"
Improve Air Quality Indoors and Outdoors.
Indoor wall in the Atrium of a corporate office.
MEDIA TYPES
• Free Standing Media
• Loose Media
• Mat Media
• Sheet Media
• Structural Media
FREESTANDING MEDIA
Freestanding media are portable living walls that are flexible for interior
Landscaping. These can be design with Hydroponic Technologies that
Conserve water, self irrigates and include moisture sensors .
LOOSE MEDIA
Loose medium systems have their soil packed into a shelf or a
bag and
Installed onto a wall. These systems require their media to be
replaced once a year in the Exterior and every two year on
interiors .
These systems are vulnerable to seismic activity and have their
medium blown away by wind driven rain and heavy winds and
should be used in applications upto 2.5 mts. height .
Most suited for smaller home gardens where replanting is desired
from Seasons to season or year to year .
MAT MEDIA
Coir fibre or felt matts are used to
support plant growth , these are thin
even in multiple layers and cannot
support mature plants for more than
Three to Five years . This requires
replacing new Matt by cutting parts of
the Matt and often damages
surrounding plants .
Most suitable for Interior spaces with
small plants , and small installations .
Also require constant irrigation and
water recirculating system
A green wall (mat media) in a children's museum, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
SHEET MEDIA
Semi open cell polyurethane sheet media utilising an egg crate pattern
is often used for vertical Green walls . Water holding capacity far
exceeds than felt and coir based systems .
Since these are not biodegradable hence stay for more than 20 years.
Sandwich construction with two layers with water proof membrane at
the back and irrigation line in between .
Plants are inserted in the first sheet after cutting pockets after
removing soil from the roots.
STRUCTURAL MEDIA
These are growth media blocks that are not loose , nor mats but incorporate
features of both into a block that can be manufactured into various sizes ,
shapes and thicknesses . These have lifespan of 10 to 15 years and can be
made for higher or lower water holding capacity depending upon the Selection
of plants also provide ease of maintenance and replacement.
PANEL MODULAR SYSTEMS (STRUCTURAL MEDIA)
Plants are pre- grown into panels that can be used inside or outside and in any
type of climate . Living walls are installed fully grown for an immediate visual
effect.
Components:
Studs, Backer Board material , Drainage Matt , Modular Tile .
TRAY SYSTEM
Plants are pre grown off site and inserted into the walls , which allow a great
degree of flexibility since the trays can be very easily removed and replaced.
Lower cost as compared to panel system mostly used in Interiors . Plants are
rooted in the soil hence require frequent replacement due to bugs, fungus and
mold.
WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Drip Irrigation System
Living Green walls are hydroponic systems that are irrigated by
a drip irrigation method . An Irrigation Control Box (ICB) is
linked into the Building plumbing using horizontal tubing
system , drip irrigation systems are self watering and can be
sensor based with timer control.
Tank System
Tray systems and free standing walls are just water Tank sand
these need to be manually filled and refilled . Not tapped into
building system require labor force . Also less efficient since do
not automatically recycle unused water.
PLANT SPECIES
Selection of plant species depends upon the Aesthetics as well as Climatic
conditions of a location.
The Green Wall in Sutton High Street, Sutton, Greater
London
REFRENCES
https://www.naava.io/editorial/what-are-green-walls
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_wall
https://architizer.com/blog/product-guides/product-guide/
eantka-green-walls/
https://www.slideshare.net/jinadevkv/green-wall-5723957
0
https://www.slideshare.net/mehdirakhshandehroo/an-intr
oduction-to-green-walls-living-walls
Thank you
