Vegetable façades

Baseline strategy · No score

It integrates vegetation into vertical enclosures to provide shade, biodiversity and spatial quality through a system suitable for the site.

Subject: Passive and Enveloping DesignContext: Buildings · Cities · LandscapingCost: highEffort: highLevel: ambitiousStage: designMaturity: context-dependent
Principle of Fachadas vegetales
Operating principle

How it works

It integrates vegetation into vertical enclosures to provide shade, biodiversity and spatial quality through a system suitable for the site.

It acts on the shape and envelope to moderate outdoor conditions before resorting to facilities. Measurements should work together, not as isolated pieces.

When does it make sense?

  • In new construction or rehabilitation of the envelope
  • After analyzing climate, orientation, use and humidity risks
  • When it is possible to check the designed detail and execution

How to apply it

  1. 1

    Defining what need resolves "vegetal façades" and establishing a starting situation.

  2. 2

    Compare alternatives and adapt design to climate, use, regulation, affected people and available resources.

  3. 3

    Apply with clear responsibilities, check the actual result and correct unwanted effects.

Potential benefits

Lower thermal demand

Increased comfort and resilience

Lower equipment dependency

Limitations and precautions

  • They require support, irrigation, drainage, species choice, safety, fire protection and accessible maintenance.
  • A poorly adapted passive solution can cause overheating, humidity or poor air quality.
  • Performance depends on both implementation and concept.

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