GREEN

WALL
An Overview
Contents
• Introduction
• History of Green Walls
• Types of Green Walls
• Benefits of Green Walls
• Main Factors
• Special Cases
• Challenges
• Conclusion
 Introduction
• Increased environmental consciousness
• Sustainable development
• Greening of buildings
• Green walls
 History of Green Walls

The hanging gardens of Babylon

 Some important developments
• 1920s: The British and North American garden city movement promote
the integration of house and garden through features such as self-clinging
climbing plants.
• 1988: Introduction of a stainless steel cable system for green facades.
• 1990s:Introduction of Cable and wire-rope net systems
• 1993: First major application of a trellis panel system in California
• 1994: Indoor living wall with bio-filtration system installed in Canada
• 2002: The MFO Park opened in Switzerland. The project featured over
1,300 high par climbing plants.
• 2005: The Japanese government sponsored a massive green wall in Expo
2005, comprised of 30 different modular green wall systems available in
Japan.
• 2007: Seattle implements the Green Factor, which includes green walls.
 Different Types

Green Wall

Green
Living Walls
Facades

Cable and Modular

Modular Vegetated
Wire-Rope Trellis Panel
Living Wall Mat Wall
Net Systems System
 Green Facades
Climbing plants or cascading groundcovers to cover
specially designed supporting structures
Rooted at the base of these structures, in the
ground, in intermediate planters or on rooftops
Self-clinging plants such as English ivy
Their sucker root attach directly to a wall, covering
entire surfaces
These can damage unsuitable walls and/or cause
difficulties when the time comes for maintenance.
Green Facades
 Cable and Wire-Rope Net Systems
Cables are employed to support faster
growing climbing plants with denser foliage
Wire-nets are used to support slower growing
plants that need supports at closer intervals
 Modular Trellis Panel System
light weight, three-dimensional panel made
from a galvanized and welded steel wire
Because of the panels are rigid, they can span
between structures and can also be used for
freestanding green walls.
 Living Walls
Pre-vegetated panels, vertical modules or planted
blankets, fixed vertically to a structural wall or
frame
Panels made of plastic, expanded polystyrene,
synthetic fabric, clay, metal, and concrete
Support a great diversity and density of plant
species
There are various forms, with the main
differences between interior and exterior designs.
Living Walls
 Modular Living Wall
Emerged from the use of modules for green
roof applications, with a number of
technological innovations
Often pre-grown, providing an 'instant' green
effect upon completion of the installation
 Vegetated Mat Wall
Composed of two layers of synthetic fabric
with pockets that physically support plants
and growing media
Nutrients
distributed through
an irrigation
system that
cycles water from
the top to down
BENEFITS OF GREEN FACADES
AND LIVING WALLS
 PUBLIC/PRIVATE BENEFITS
Area of impact Description Benefits
Reduce urban heat Temperature rise in urban areas caused Promotes natural cooling
island effect by the replacement of natural and reduces temperature.
vegetation by other structures
Improved exterior Modern urban environments are having Captures airborne
air quality high concentration of air pollutants pollutants and filters
particulate matter
Aesthetic studies have linked the presence of •Creates visual interest
improvement plants to improved human health and •Increases property values
mental well being •Hides unsightly features
Building structure Buildings are exposed to the weathering Protects exterior from UV
protection and cause deterioration radiation and temperature
fluctuations
Improved energy Improves thermal insulation capacity Reduces ambient
efficiency through external temperature regulation Temperature
Improved indoor Filter contaminates that are flushed out Captures airborne
air quality of buildings through traditional pollutants such as dust and
ventilation systems pollen
 Environmental Benefits
Offer cooling in the city through direct
shading and evaporate transpiration
Filters gaseous and particulate pollutants from
the atmosphere in the urban environment

Economical Benefits
Reduce climatic stress on building and increase
the service and practical life of buildings and
reduce cost on the painting materials
Reduce energy used for cooling vastly
 Aesthetics
Well designed green walls provide good
aesthetic look

Other benefits
Increased biodiversity
Urban agriculture
 MAIN FACTORS
1. Elements of a Living Wall
Plant selection
Irrigation
 2. Factors for Successful Green Facades

i. Attachment to building envelope

ii. Calculation of structural loads
iii. Plant selection
iv. Plant maintenance
v. Registered manufactures and trained
installers
 3.Factors Affecting Living Walls

i. Irrigation
ii. Use correctly specified plants
iii. Consideration of the microclimates
iv. Growing medium
 4. Cost
i. Project size.
ii. Design team costs.
iii. System type.
iv. Support structure requirements.
v. Building location.
vi. Complexity of design.
vii. Use of standard or custom
components.
 5. Maintenance
• Different plants will have different irrigation and
nutrient requirements
• Cable and wire-rope system require periodic
checking to ensure that the elements are
properly in place as the plants mature
• Living walls require regular irrigation and degree
of maintenance required will depend on the type
of living wall system and the vegetation used.
• Aesthetic qualities expected by client
 SPECIAL CASES
1. Loose Medium Wall
2. Mat Medium Wall
3. Structural Media Wall
4. Pro Wall
5. Versa Wall Systems
 CHALANGES

1.Expense
2.Heavy Load
3.Maintenance
 CONCLUSIONS
• Green walls provide an efficient tool in energy saving,
bio diversity and temperature-air control
• Offer a new emerging way to a green built
environment
• Still under research, not commonly practiced in
India, but in foreign countries like USA, Japan &
France
• To be hoped that the development of experience &
knowledge of benefits will encourage people to
switch to green built construction.