Biophilic architecture: a review of the rationale and outcomes

Contemporary cities have high stress levels, mental health issues, high crime levels and ill health, while the built environment shows increasing problems with urban heat island effects and air and water pollution. Emerging from these concerns is a new set of design principles and practices where nature needs to play a bigger part called “biophilic architecture”. This design approach asserts that humans have an innate connection with nature that can assist to make buildings and cities more effective human abodes. This paper examines the evidence for this innate human psychological and physiological link to nature and then assesses the emerging research supporting the multiple social, environmental and economic benefits of biophilic architecture

SUSTAINABILITY OF LIVING WALL SYSTEMS THROUGH AN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES LENS

Speaking about the sustainability of the urban environment and the role of greening, the multiple use of different technical and ecological solutions must be the future approach for planners and designers. The holistic approach and multidisciplinary teams of research are needed to provide a complete knowledge of the different urban ecosystems, in order to achieve the best long-term result. The green infrastructures network in the European cities and Metropolitan areas include a lot of nature-based solutions devoted to improve both the urban natural capital and the quality of life of citizens. Among these solutions green corridors, parks and gardens, green roofs and green walls can be included. The aim of the following paragraphs is to make the point about the green walls, starting from the description of the different types and technologies, then moving to the analysis of the ecosystem services provided. In particular, a literature review of papers published during the last fifteen years has been done with a particular attention on the European context