In recent years, as a result of the application of gardening to architecture, vertical gardens have mushroomed all over the world, both in Spain and in the rest of the world.

The first man who designed a vertical garden was Patrick Blanc. There are many from him works all over the world: France, India, Japan, the U.S. and Thailand … In his country he was proclaime Knight of the Order of Arts and also received a gold medal from the Academy of Architecture. His work grew out of the observation of the flora of tropical forest , and the first place where he applied all his creativity was home.

The green walls not only provide aesthetic value to the buildings by adding a green colour to our gray cities, they also add many environmental advantages, because they serve as air filters and thermal regulators, helping to regulate the temperature inside the buildings and save energy all year.

Moreover, as a result of photosynthesis and C02 absorptivity, these gardens also remove some of the pollutants from the atmosphere, helping to improve air quality and provide a cooler environment. Furthermore, the cover acts as acoustic insulation, leading to reduce the impact of noise a few decibels in the building .

The structures (metal or wood), which usually holding plants, include two fiberglass walls and, in the middle of it, there is some kind of substrate where the plants can have root. It is strategically located a few inches from the wall, so it does not wet the walls and so plants can breathe, reaching to incorporate some structures air circulation systems.

The supply of water for watering is located between the sheets. With this irrigation system, water usage is minimal, because the excess water is again collected and it was used to subsequent irrigations through a closed circuit, the only maintenance required is periodic review of the facilities and eventual prunings.

This “green architecture” can be implanted in both exterior and interior spaces and any climatic environment. The only drawback is that these green walls have to be chosen with great care in order to they can adapt properly to the climate conditions of the place where edificie is built. And in fact, the plants do not need soil, because soil is only a way. Only multiple water and nutrients dissolved in it, together with the light and carbon dioxide, are essential to plants.

In the picture we can see the vertical gardens located in Caixa Fórum (Atocha Station)

Share and Enjoy