Green walls and roofs
Green roofs and vertical gardens improve a building’s insulation, reduce storm water run-off, capture CO2, filter pollutants, and increase biodiversity. This all leads to reduced energy consumption and increased urban resilience. Available technology is advanced but the challenge is to increase uptake by integrating it into local urban policies.
For an introduction to relevance of green walls and roofs for urban areas, watch the below video:
For an introduction to the history of green walls & roofs, watch this video by Ali Abdul Malik & Clara Rendón (RWTH Institute of Landscape Architecture):
Turin
Green roofs and walls are fitted to public buildings, including the Casa nel Parco community centre, social housing, schools (see above photo) and other buildings - chosen with the help of citizens within the Turin Living Lab.
The green indoor and outdoor walls NBS consists of two implemented green walls in the Mirafiori Sud district, and an extensive green roof has also been created on a currently abandoned public building located in an area named WOW, also in the same district.
Zagreb
The Zagreb team has developed a modular urban farm next to the therapeutic garden on the former meat processing plant area in Sesvete. The farm farm combines two nature-based solutions: green walls as well as aquaponics. The modular container features green wall and roof technologies on the outside, and a small aquaponics system inside. The green wall and roof significantly reduce the sensitivity of the container to atmospheric conditions - insulating the inside of the farm from temperature extremes and absorbing excess rainwater through the green roof technology. The container is mobile and can change location as needed, e.g. for experimentation at Zagreb University.
More details are available in the factsheet.
Cluj-Napoca
Green roofs and walls will be created on public buildings in the city, making them more pleasant and energy efficient.
Zenica
Zenica has plans to implement green walls and roofs in the city to provide shelter, insulation and help with air quality issues.
