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Green facade

Many factors lead to shortages or lack of green spaces in cities especially in historical urban areas such as Rome and Venice. These cities are characterized by narrow and winding streets, compact urban fabrics, and lack of conventional green spaces. Therefore, we need to consider the application of innovative strategies in order to bring greenery to the densest parts of our cities to achieve sustainable urban rehabilitation. Green walls of buildings can be the opportunity to make cities greener and to improve public enjoyment of the urban environment, without using free space at street level which is scarce in the compact cities. The walls are the elements of communication between interior and exterior, according to which the building ceases to have a neutral position in the city and begins to take an active role. The green walls are vertical surfaces which have plants growing on them or integrated within the surfaces. Green roofs is not new for people but contemporary green wall systems are more realistic in dense urban context.
People are becoming aware of the benefits of green walls to enhance surroundings and spatial planning strategies are making advances in their uses and appreciation. Green walls systems are related to all vertical surfaces covered with vegetation with climbers regarding to an ascendant growing or hangers concerning to a descendant growing; living walls with an uniform growth of plants on the building, comprising modular systems which are related to interlocking units and vertical gardens which are integrated with lightweight screens 
( Fig.1).

 Fig.1- Current green walls systems, Central Park( Sydney)
Some of the most innovative approaches concern to the use of several other non-climbing species of plants in living walls, supported by modular systems based on lightweight screens. Green walls, either green facades or living walls, improve not only the aesthetic behaviour of buildings and city but also their performances in creating micro climate at city scale. Green wall system can be used as a coating for both new and existing buildings, as an autonomous structure or as defining and conforming elements of the urban space. The contemporary use of living walls is distinguished from previous uses by the integration of plants, and is supporting structures with the construction of the buildings themselves. These solutions of using greenery on buildings are flexible systems that can be adapted to difficult shapes, sizes or inaccessible places such as windows (see Fig. 2)
Fig.2- Green Facade


Other important things to consider in plants choice related to green walls include the size and the visual aspect of the vegetation, which will be determined by climate, maintenance and other local issues. Therefore, the use of native species of plants could be a good solution, given that they are very well adapted to local conditions and their use will further serve to allow citizens to identify themselves with a particular place, because the local people are aware of these species and low maintenance cost. 

Source-http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/home-design/driven-up-the-wall/news-story/1274538956433722b6b3a6aff33fcbbb
Image Sources-http://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-tallest-vertical-garden-lives-and-breathes-in-sydney/
http://brj.com.sg/tag/landscaping/

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