Green Facade (Vertical Greening): Benefits and Threats

In the challenge of development in dense urban areas and environmental preservation, sustainability is a significant requirement where green facade (vertical greening) is one of those approaches that flourished during the last decade although it is not a new concept. Hanging or vertical garden, vertical vegetable farms, balcony garden, container or planter box greening, green or eco building, green roof or rooftop garden, wall planter, and green envelop are all different aspects of this idea that demonstrate how wide this landscape can be. Greening the building envelope with vegetation can be used as a mean to restore the environmental conditions in dense urban areas. Designers can look for enhanced solutions where the facades are more than tinted glass barrier. Several researches have proven the environmental benefits of green facade on both new and existing buildings. They can be applied for mitigating the effect of urban heat island, increasing biodiversity and ecological value, insulating against environmental impact, outdoor and indoor comfort, social and psychological wellbeing and enhancement of air quality for city dwellers. This article discusses different systems of the green facade as a method of sustainable development.