The Art of Facade Gardening - A project to improve Air Quality in Inner Cities

Most Inner Cities suffer from highly condensed built fabric which stores the heat of summer days. To relief this effect several architects have started to integrate not only earth bound greenery but to integrate plants in their vertical facades. Through the plants there is a mitigation of the Heat Island effect since the leaves of the plants prevent the sun rays to heat up stone and glass facades. At the same time plants are generating oxygene to improove air quality of the inner cities. One further aspect of green facades ist hat the leaves can clean air from inner city dust. The whole year greenery gives as well a a positive psycholgical well beening in the nature and are improving the quality of life in inner cities One further positive effect is that plant have no hard surfaces and are therefor not reflecting noise but are reducing noise through their leaves. WLS are consultants for facades of a highrise bilding with a timber facade, a necessary sprinkler system and a planting system at vertical facades. This case study will highlight the state of art of facade greenery in the forefront of green technology with natural materials, combined with highly sophisticated building technology.