Introduction:
During the last few years the interest in green spaces increased due to their significant impact on the microclimate. The trends began with green roofs on buildings, recently the studies revealed that vertical green façade are not only for aesthetic aspects, but it could be more influential and beneficial to balance the temperature in extreme climates, add to that the other benefits like increasing property value, wellbeing and health and saving energy.
This paper will present the definition of green walls and the recent interests on this concept in hot climates, it will focus mostly on the passive solution of it to highlight the environmental benefits and difficulties on individual buildings. The study will be related to some scientific articles in this domain through the data base, and a review on the commercial side to find any considerations to make it more efficient.
Green walls classifications:
Green façade concept is not a new method, the traditional architecture shows many interests in it, especially, in hot climates. Nowadays, the theory is built on the traditional methods with the potential to involve technology and new materials to make green façade a sustainable passive solution in many buildings. (Kohler 2008)
Firstly, green façade systems need to be defined, according to Koler, there is mainly two type of this system:
1- In traditional architecture: climbers, trees.
2- In modern architecture: green Façade which in planted on the ground or a pot and climb the wall through a mesh or another structure, and living façade which is planted on a special wall located in front of the main wall and have small pots with a water and nutrients system supply.
Some of the vertical green system are located on the m...
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...ments in architecture to provide buildings with many environmental benefits like temperature reduction by shadings, isolation and evaporation. and It promote natural ventilation in some conditions and could be wind blockage if it is thick enough. It was proven it could be a very good acoustic insulator if it is located in particular places of the building but not like green roofs, add to that it improves air quality and moisturize the surrounding environment which is preferred in hot dry climates. Definitely, to make a successful concept many considerations must took into account like the size and type of this structure, location and orientation is a crucial aspect for plants and choice of the suitable plants for each climate, and how to design it on the early stages of the project to study the budget and the combination of its structure with the main building.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a certification program for green buildings with stringent requirements for building energy efficient and environmentally responsible structures. Some requirements of this program include specific building materials, smart grid capable, gray water reclamation systems, green space minimums, high levels of insulation and low thermal transfer glass (US Green Building Council). Green buildings are a must if we are to sustain our current level of growth. Despite the higher initial cost of these buildings, the long term energy savings make these buildings a smarter choice for
It is also the result of the belief of the architect that the building should not oppose the environment. By constructing the same material in a more environmentally efficient way, the building is light in appearance but it doesn’t in functionality. The titles of some books on this architect who lead a new Australian domus in the form of a long and narrow, light-weight, roof work, comparable in its sheltering function to the bower of a tree or, in more morphological terms, to the turned up collar of an overcoat that shelters from the wind while subtly opening its front towards the sun , reveal the stubbornly prudent aesthetics of lightness: Leaves of Iron , Touch this Earth Lightly , Feathers of Metal
The types of materials used for this purpose also have a function and specific aesthetic qualities. The reinforced glass has the function of trapping the suns solar energy, but also aids good aesthetic qualities increasing the sense of space. The veneered chipboard and plywood repeats this aspect of the house by heavily insulating the walls and decorate the house. These mat...
A study of Jaisalmer havelis shows plain walls in the lower part of north and south facades and full height, texture walls on east and west facades, which are shaded, almost all day. Textured walls are only 50mm thick while the massive walls are 450mm to 600mm thick (Gupta, 1984, p.64).
The façade on the outside wall, side/front, have a worn stone look with a hint of glass to give it that wow factor. This feature is used to attract
Green roofs, also known as living roofs, eco roofs, roof terraces or roof gardens, are a roof design of a building that is partly or entirely enclosed with vegetation and growing medium, therefore, the roof is planted over a waterproofing membrane and it has extra layers, for instance roof fence and drainage. He and Jim, (2010) states that green roof require the making of vegetated space on the top of artificial structures design. They can help to reduce the thermal properties of buildings to produce cooling energy conservation and increase social comforts. There are two main types of Green Roof-Intensive and Extensive.
In order to measure whether a building has achieved the definition of "green", each LEED classification system incorporates seven categories: Sustainable systems, Water Efficiency, Energy, and Atmosphere, Materials and resources, Quality of the indoor environment, Design
Globally, green buildings are being recognised and accredited, leading to the introduction of various tools and indices with one common objective that is to evaluate, measure, distinguish and sets apart this uniquely designed buildings from the rest. The Diamond Building carries a Green Building Index (GBI) accreditation, a first in Malaysia. Among the achievement of the ST Diamond Building are:
Under such circumstances, Frank Gehry took reference of the twentieth century art nouveau style to incorporate the natural essence into his design so that it blends with the natural environment of the surrounding. With a lot of inspiration from the nature, the exquisite façade was designed to mimic the nature. The glass-encased columns were designed to look like a swaying bamboo and the curved floor w...
Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building performance. The basic objects of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimal waste, and create healthy, productive environments (“Sustainable Design”). Focusing primarily on the sustainable design principles, there are five, including: low-impact materials, energy efficiency, quality and durability, design for reuse and recycling, and renewability. As sustainability appears to become the necessary trend in architecture, the question concerning the cost versus outcome of “going green” really an investment or a waste of time and money comes to mind. With our research provided below, we believe the expenses may truly be with the investment in the end.
Implementation of green concepts has been significant not only in design engineering but also in construction. Therefore the knowledge about green design has been a very important fact for the sustainable development in civil engineering. Concepts such as green buildings, carbon foot print, ecological foot print and LEED rating system have helped to achieve sustainable development for civil engineering
It will renew landscape and raise the quality of the building environment by adding a distinctive identity of design or structure to the new part of historic buildings.
Human beings are susceptible to the force of nature. They had to make shelter for themselves. Material was one of the most basic tools to create shelter. By development of building construction, selection and use of materials also developed. The relationship between the architecture and the materials before invention of modern materials was simple and generally naturally [1]; in the past, architects always use tradition materials according their experimental skills. For choosing structural materials, they had attention to important factors such as availability (local materials) and harmony with climate and culture [2], although this way was forward with feedback. But this relationship was not continuing simply.
Despite the fact that novel technologies are continuously under development to complement existing practices in coming up with greener buildings, the universal intent is that such structures are designed to diminish the general effect on the built environment on health of the humans in addition to the natural environment via: Diminishing environmental degradation, pollution and waste, improving productivity of the employee and guarding occupant health, efficient usage of water, energy, in addition to other resources.
Constructing ‘green cities’ using the appropriate off-the-grid techniques would be a solution between human-environmental interactions. Off-the-grid methods uses little or without reliance on services but instead, uses schemes and technologies of alternative energy systems that uses renewable energy such as solar panels and wind turbines. Off-the-grid constructions tend to be costly mainly due to its upfront cost, nevertheless, in most cases, it would be cost-effective in spite of the minor maintenance cost and would also be a solution to some of the ecological concerns. Through understanding the environment, architects could ideally use the concept of eco-cities to minimise the carbon emissions and also consider self-sufficiency to resolve the issues between the production and the zero-emissions requirement.