From fully vegetated federal building in Portland, to a vertical cube garden in Spain, to a DIY vertical garden made of recycled bottles, the green wall movement is in full swing. A recent article in the New York Times reports on the trend, noting that improvements in technology are making vertical gardens much more attractive to architects and engineers. There's little argument that they look great. But what, if any, are the functional benefits?
A new green wall project, the Singapore FreePort — a high-security building for valuable collectibles — uses plants to shield the building from heating effects of the tropical sun.
Other environmental benefits claimed for green walls, like their ability to absorb carbon dioxide in the ambient air, are still being studied. The results so far are inconclusive.
Read the New York Times article here.
Photo: The exterior of the Muse du Quai Branly in Paris (via Green Roofs)