Urban landscapes are rapidly evolving, confronting environmental, economic, and social challenges as a result of widespread urbanization. Vertical gardens revolutionize urban landscapes by bringing nature into challenging environments.
Unlike mere decorations, they infuse life and green- ery into barren spaces like courtyards, city streets, and modern buildings. By employing innovative framing and irrigation systems, vertical gardens allow diverse plant species to thrive on building exteriors, creating stunning compositions with various textures and patterns.
Giving the past and present background of the vertical gardens concept Ar Kunal Maniar Founding Partner & Principal Architect, Kunal Maniar & Associates said, “Whilst vertical gardens have grown popular in recent years as a means to weave greenery into dense urban fabrics, their origin dates back to ancient civilizations. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, for instance, were said to be one of the most awe-inspiring wonders of the old world. Of course, in contemporary times, vertical gardening has been adapted to suit the needs of the concrete jungle. Vertical gardening sits right at the node of art, ecology and technology; from green facades to vegetated mat walls and modular units, there is a burgeoning variety of systems to choose from."
Explaining the concept of vertical gardens, Ar Samved Pradhan, Design Director, Kishore D. Pradhan: Architec- ture + Landscape shared, Vertical gardens are living structures that transform bare walls into lush, green environments, enhancing urban aesthetics and providing ecological benefits. They come in two primary forms:
Green Façades, where climbing plants grow up trellises or directly on the wall, and Living Walls, which support a variety of plants rooted in a medium attached to the wall itself. This innovative approach allows for extensive vegetation on minimal ground space, integrating nature into urban settings in visually and environmentally impactful ways. Key design considerations for implementing vertical gardens include thorough site analysis to understand climate, weight loading, and existing structures. Effective design and planning involve setting objectives, planning for irrigation and maintenance. During installation, careful selection of plants, growing mediums, and en- suring adequate water supply, protection, and support structures are crucial. Integrating maintenance plans into the design process is essential to ensure the green wall's durability and livability.
Vertical gardens represent a fusion of art and nature, echoing traditional art forms like drawing and painting. Their pictorial effect is striking, resembling paintings with variations in texture, density, and color. The surface of these gardens becomes a canvas, showcasing a symphony of forms and shades that evoke curiosity and appreciation for foliage diversity.”
VERTICAL FORESTRY IN CITIES
Vertical gardens can certainly play a key role in the mitigation of the urban-heat island effect as evapotranspiration brings a cooling effect as moisture is released into the environment as per Ar Kunal Maniar. "However, we must be careful not to over-exaggerate the benefits of an isolated green façade on a building. A meaningful change in the microclimate of a city is achievable through scaling up of all biophilic design interventions such as vertical gardens, green roofs, and densely planted pocket parks.”
One of the most critical environmental challenges in urban areas is the urban heat island (UHI) ef- fect, where cities experience higher temperatures than their rural counterparts, concurred Ar. Samved Pradhan. “Vertical gardens play a vital role in mitigating the UHI effect. The vegetation in green walls cools the air through the process of evapotranspiration, where plants re- lease moisture into the atmosphere. This natural cooling effect reduces the ambient temperature around buildings, enhancing urban com- fort and reducing the demand for energy-intensive cooling systems,” he added.
SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH GREEN WALLS
As cities continue to expand, vertical gardens offer a sustainable solution to some of the most press- ing urban challenges. These living structures not only restore greenery to our concrete jungles but also pave the way for a future where urban and natural environments coexist harmoniously.
Ar. Samved Pradhan added, “Green walls significantly contrib- ute to urban sustainability. They act as natural insulators, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling by maintaining building temperatures. This leads to lower energy consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, pro- moting energy efficiency. Moreover, vertical gardens improve air quality by filtering pollutants and increasing oxygen levels, contributing to healthier urban environments. These sustainability benefits make vertical gardens a crucial component of eco-friendly urban planning. These structures also support biodiversity by providing habitats for various species, contributing to the ecological balance within urban areas.”
Ar Kunal Maniar expressed, “The benefits of a vertical garden that has been designed sensitively and mindfully can transcend mere aes- thetic value. It could contribute to improving microclimatic conditions as well as air quality. If species are chosen correctly, the façade can support biodiversity in the area, serving as a microhabitat for local bees or butterflies.”
He further added, “This being said, to be perfectly candid, I think more often than not, a ‘green wall’ ends up as a green-washing gimmick; unfortunately, sustainability has been reduced to a marketing buzzword. Personally, I feel that at this critical juncture in the ecolog- ical crisis, we need to shift our at- tention towards vertical farming and sustainable food production in the city as a means to build resilience. “
THE FUTURE LANDSCAPE
Globally, vertical gardens are now taking the form of urban farms, where vertical surfaces are being utilized for growing food in urban areas and technological advance- ments have played a significant role in advancing vertical gardening practices. This addresses the issue of both food security, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transporting food from rural areas as well as providing clean air and sustainability in the urban cities.
But of course, anything that needs to be done to protect the environment, comes with lot of challenges. To promote the idea in India, among the masses and the real estate sector, it would require change of mindset, regulatory support and favorable policies and incentives to enhance its adoption at a big scale.
Vertical gardens add beauty and greenery to urban landscapes, making them more visually appealing, mitigate the heat generated in urban areas by reducing the overall temperature, and absorb pollutants, releasing clean oxygen into the atmosphere.
There is a need to have greater awareness, government participation and collaborations among industry players to drive the vertical forestry and farming techniques that have numerous benefits for the environment and the people.
