VERTICAL GARDENS: TYPOLOGIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
In a context where environmental concerns and improving the habitability of increasingly congested urban spaces are current issues, vertical gardens emerge as an alternative to integrate vegetation into buildings.
There are numerous advantages that a vegetative envelope brings, both in the internal energy functionality of the building and spatially in the environments it occupies. This is why in recent times, various typologies of vertical gardens and technical solutions have been developed, offering a wide range of possibilities. However, gardens on facades and rooftops have always existed in traditional architecture, in both cold and warm climates, due to their excellent insulating qualities.
Today, some of the most commonly used vertical gardens include:
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Green facades
These consist of climbing plants that attach themselves to the facades of buildings by their own means, without auxiliary support. Thus, only the necessary environmental conditions for the plants' life (water, light, and soil) need to be provided to implement this system.
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Sphagnum vertical garden
In this system, plants grow in an organic substrate made of Sphagnum moss placed inside steel mesh gabions. Depending on the garden's dimensions and the conditions of the wall to cover, it may or may not require an auxiliary structure for fixation.
A drip irrigation system releases water from the top of the wall, soaking the substrate until it finally drips onto a collecting channel that directs excess water to a drain. While nutrients can be provided through irrigation, they are not essential in the short term.
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Hydroponic Vertical Garden
The hydroponic vertical garden system involves the installation of an inert material layer (felt, rock wool, foams, etc.) that enables plant growth, fixed on an auxiliary structure typically made of steel profiles. It's coupled with an automated irrigation system that allows water recirculation.
Water falls from the top of the wall, moistening the phytotextile layer where the plant species are placed. Finally, the excess water drips into a collecting channel, directing it to a tank with recirculation. This tank is supplemented with nutrients and fertilizers for irrigation.
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Modular Vertical Garden
Modular vertical gardens consist of prefabricated panels, their main advantage being the speed of installation, but they have greater limitations in terms of shape.
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Preservad Vertical Garden
Preserved vertical gardens consist of natural preserved moss, maintaining the same texture and appearance as living moss. Their advantage lies in not requiring special light or watering conditions.
It's a 100% natural and biodegradable product, particularly suitable for spaces where conditions don't allow for natural plant life, such as certain interiors.
Vertical gardens are a modern and versatile solution to address sustainability in dense urban environments. They offer advantages such as improving energy efficiency and enhancing spaces' aesthetics. There are various typologies, from green facades to hydroponic and modular systems. The preserved vertical garden, featuring natural moss that requires neither natural light nor watering, stands out as a biodegradable option for indoor spaces. These gardens blend nature and architecture, contributing to well-being and the environment in cities.