Green walls provide environmental benefits such as purifying the air, reducing noise, and mitigating the heat island effect, ultimately improving the urban environment.

"Green walls can help reduce the heat island effect and improve air quality, in addition to their aesthetic benefits."

"Green walls can help regulate indoor temperature and reduce energy costs for cooling."

Homeowners should consider the climate and environmental conditions of their location, as well as the level of maintenance required, when choosing plants for their green wall.

"Green walls can reduce indoor temperature by approximately 1.8 ℃, in addition to improving air quality by reducing concentrations of pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, particulates, and ozone."

"A green wall can provide an aesthetic benefit by creating a visually appealing and pleasant environment, similar to transforming urban spaces into small oases."

"One potential health benefit of indoor green walls is that they can purify the air, which can improve indoor air quality and contribute to a healthier living environment."

"For a low-maintenance vertical garden, consider using plants like Actinidia colomicta, grapes, sweet peas, honeysuckle, clematis, Chinese lemongrass, nasturtium, climbing rose, pumpkin, beans, and hops, as they are suitable for vertical gardening."

"For a north-facing green wall with limited sun, suitable plants include ivys, heucheras, ferns, thyme, rosemary, and parsley."

Vertical gardens provide benefits in small spaces by beautifying the environment and improving the quality of life for residents.

"For a vertical garden, plants like lily bamboo, firecracker red, and hydrangea are recommended."

The city government is adapting to the local climate by choosing plant varieties that are durable and have a good impact on the environment.

"Vertical green walls can reduce indoor temperature by approximately 1.8 ℃, in addition to providing other environmental benefits such as air purification."

Green walls provide environmental benefits such as purifying the air, reducing noise, and mitigating the heat island effect, ultimately improving the urban environment.

Title:

Content: City car park green beautification to create a small oasis
▲ Taichung City Government has vigorously promoted green beautification and expanded the planting of green fences in parking lots and crane yards, so that parking lots become small oases.
(Photo / courtesy of Taichung City Government, same as below)
Life Center / General Report
Taichung City is currently building a number of three-dimensional parking lot, after the completion of the parking space in addition to a large increase, the Transportation Bureau also launched a green beautification plan, the parking lot into a small oasis in the city.
As of February this year (113), a total of 59 parking lots and 2 towing yards, including Shuinan Central Park, Chuangyan 22, 26, Dajia Liming Parking Lot, Houli Fuxing Parking Lot, etc., have been successfully landscaped.
▲ The green beautification operation of the parking lot is ongoing, and the selection of durable varieties ensures the long-term operation of the landscape.
"Taichung City Government attaches importance to the voice of the public, improve the parking lot environment, green beautification has become a dazzling highlight of the city!" Transportation Secretary Ye Zhaofu explained that the core of the parking lot renovation plan is to expand green beautification, choose plant varieties with beautification environment and durability, to ensure that the green fence can maintain a beautiful landscape in long-term operation, while having a good impact on the environment.
In the future, we will continue to plant rich and diverse green plants around various parking lots and towing yards to build a green ecological barrier.
▲ The Hing Neutral Parking Lot, which is under construction, integrates aesthetics, environmental protection and ecology with the plan of “Vertical Park of Parking Lot ”.
In addition to beautifying the existing parking lot, the Taichung Municipal Transportation Bureau also combines greening concepts with greening concepts for the parking lot currently under construction. For example, the Hing Neutral Parking Lot, which is expected to open in 114 years, is different from the traditional green landscape design. Make the wall green effect, so that the parking lot looks like a three-dimensional forest in the park, integrating beauty, environmental protection and ecology, providing a green barrier that can purify the air, reduce noise and heat island effect, and improve the urban environment.
The park concept is integrated into the parking lot design, and the size of the parking lot is reduced to increase the area of green space. The event plaza and urban ribbon multi-purpose space are planned on Chenggong Road and Hing Chung Street.
(Taichung City Government Advertisement)
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"Green walls can help reduce the heat island effect and improve air quality, in addition to their aesthetic benefits."

"Green walls can help regulate indoor temperature and reduce energy costs for cooling."

Title:

Content: More construction owners apply for subsidies to increase the garden high-rise green space area doubled in 10 years
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Our high-rise green space has increased significantly, more than doubling in size over the past 10 years, from 60 hectares in 2013 to 155 hectares.
In addition to more new builders incorporating high-rise green spaces or rooftop gardens into their blueprints, more and more owners of older buildings are applying to the National Park Service for subsidies to add or convert their roofs into green spaces.
In an interview with the Lianhe Zaobao, the senior director of the National Park Service's landscaping department, Sophie Ann, revealed that since 2009, about 300 projects have applied for grants for high-rise green spaces or vertical landscaping.
Owners who receive the allowance must ensure that the green space of the tall building is maintained for at least five years.
According to the Park Service, only five applicants no longer maintain green spaces for high-rise buildings due to financial or other factors.
The Park Service annually reviews whether the green spaces in tall buildings are still lush and provides horticultural advice when needed, such as introducing heat-resistant and heat-resistant landscape plants to replace poorly grown flowers and trees.
The Park Service would not disclose how much subsidy has been allocated so far, but stressed that the purpose of the subsidy is to encourage more owners to pay attention to the benefits of high-rise green space, in line with Singapore ’ s 2030 Green Plan, to implement the vision of 200 hectares of high-rise green space.
In fact, many builders choose to set up garden green space in tall buildings or rooftops, or plant vertical flowers and trees in the outer layer of the building, while greening the building environment of steel cement, it also saves energy costs for cooling indoor space.
Rooftop gardens can "cool" the surface of a building by 6 degrees Celsius and reduce the surrounding temperature by 4 degrees Celsius, Sufian said.
In addition, when the solar panel is placed on the roof, if green plants are also planted below it, the solar panel can be prevented from overheating and the charging efficiency can be improved.
More intensive planting of various plants along the roadside
Green buildings such as vertical greening are a topic of concern in recent years, and integrating green space and natural habitat in new towns and residential areas can be one of the compromise solutions to balance urban development and conservation, and offset the plundering and depletion of the natural environment by development projects.
About 40 percent of Singapore's land area is covered by green vegetation, many of which are naturally formed forests in the past half century.
After the urban development of the 1970s, many rural and agricultural land was cleared, and tropical tree species that are easier to reproduce and grow quickly were planted, and many sub-forests were scattered everywhere.
Over the years, the Park Service has also grown more dense and numerous plants per hectare of road land than in the past.
In the past, most of the plants on both sides of the road were of the same species. "This is not a wise move, because if a certain species of tree is infected, it will affect a lot of trees," said Mr Woo Chao-shing, Senior Director of Roads and Landscape of the Park Service.
As a result, over the years, more diverse species of shrubs and trees have been added to create a sense of stratification along roadsides or open spaces, attracting more butterflies and birds, etc. “And this will improve the fragmentation of green spaces caused by urbanization, strengthen ecological cohesion, repair roads and increase the destruction of nature by building more houses. ”
"When cities develop, we have to compensate by planting more plants in the same area of green corridors, or by choosing plants that grow faster to get back to the lush feeling of the past as soon as possible," Hu said.
To this end, the Park Service launched the rewilding project three years ago, deliberately ignoring the green corridors of 24 locations, reducing the number of routine pruning of branches and weeds and creating a sense of overgrown grass.
"We deliberately allow nature to grow freely, increasing its biodiversity and saving manpower, as long as it does not block the entrance of drainage channels or obstruct the passage of pedestrians," Hu said.
However, some residents are concerned about mosquito breeding, and "we will consider it on a case-by-case basis before deciding whether to expand the area under the plan."
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Homeowners should consider the climate and environmental conditions of their location, as well as the level of maintenance required, when choosing plants for their green wall.

"Green walls can reduce indoor temperature by approximately 1.8 ℃, in addition to improving air quality by reducing concentrations of pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, particulates, and ozone."

Title:

Content: Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Chiayi
The school received an environmental subsidy of NT $220,000 two years ago to plant large Dumbo flowers to form a green wall, which helps to cool down the temperature and purify the air, and also to install an automatic sprinkler system to maintain the ecology of the green wall.
According to the Environmental Protection Bureau of Chiayi City Government, since 2019, the Environmental Protection Department has promoted the vertical air green wall project. Since 2019, three schools, including Xingjia, Jiabei Elementary School and Jiabei Elementary School, have installed climbing plants on the school's daughter wall and the balcony of the classroom.
The Environmental Protection Bureau of the Chiayi Municipal Government said that this year, the Environmental Protection Agency expanded the target of subsidies, in addition to the original subsidies of public middle school, public elementary school, public preschool institutions, public welfare groups, public facilities, environmental protection night market, civic activity center and other venues, air green wall subsidies of 3,000 to 6,000 yuan per square meter, single subsidy ceiling of 400,000 yuan.
According to the Municipal Environmental Protection Agency, according to the results of the study, vertical green walls can reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), suspended particulates (PM10) by about 40% and 60%, but also reduce the concentration of indoor fine suspended particulates (PM2.5) by about 10%, ozone by about 30%, and indoor temperature reduction by about 1.8 ℃.
According to the city's Environmental Protection Bureau, the appropriate plant types are lily bamboo, firecracker red, Yunnan yellow carnation, turtle, Boston kidney fern, hydrangea, African pansy or panthera, and can be selected according to the space planning and installation requirements, so that the space is more beautiful.
# Green Wall # Cooling # EPB # EPD # Planting

"A green wall can provide an aesthetic benefit by creating a visually appealing and pleasant environment, similar to transforming urban spaces into small oases."

"One potential health benefit of indoor green walls is that they can purify the air, which can improve indoor air quality and contribute to a healthier living environment."

"For a low-maintenance vertical garden, consider using plants like Actinidia colomicta, grapes, sweet peas, honeysuckle, clematis, Chinese lemongrass, nasturtium, climbing rose, pumpkin, beans, and hops, as they are suitable for vertical gardening."

Title:

Content: How to equip the territory around a private house: "helpers" and solutions
18.05.2023
10 min.
Adjacent territory
All “freshly baked ” and even“ experienced ” owners of suburban housing have to think about the question of how to equip the territory around a private house.
The task before them is not easy, because its design depends on what impression will make the main building and the site as a whole.
Successful landscape design of the yard of a private house will not only make possession respectable, but will also be able to turn it into the most comfortable place, a real pride of the owners.
However, before getting down to business, future designers need to get acquainted with the rules of decorating the adjacent territory, with the decorative elements used and with interesting ideas.
Landscaping and landscape design
It seems that these are synonyms, but it is not quite so.
The improvement of the site implies only technical work.
These include paving paths and sites, the construction and installation of a fence, gates, as well as preliminary preparation of the territory (drainage, communications, landscaping, etc.).
Landscape design is a more complex project, so it requires more serious costs.
In this case, we can talk about creativity, since the author has to choose a lot of plants, pavements, and various decorative elements.
Usually, the improvement of the adjacent territory is the prerogative of the engineer, and the landscape design is engaged in a designer or architect.
However, if the entire front of the work is going to be performed by the owners of the suburban area, then they should become "masters of all trades".
And in this case, the task before them is almost impossible.
Yes, if the territory is not very large, then they are quite able to cope on their own.
Almost “boundless space ” and many different ideas are a good reason to invite specialists.
Making the yard of a private house with his own hands: large elements-assistants
Those who have just completed the construction of the house, the most difficult, as they have yet to decide what to be on their site.
In this case, you need to get acquainted with the elements that will help make the pastime of the owners pleasant, and the rest complete.
The list of worthy candidates can include:
• gazebo, ideal option - a structure with any hearth and furniture for eating, it can be open or closed;
• canopy, which often turns into a comfortable summer kitchen, and "part-time" - in the dining room in the fresh air;
• swimming pool: it can also be open or closed, protected by a simple canopy, an “advanced ” pavilion, etc.
For families with small children, the best option would be an adjacent territory with a playground.
Possible elements:
• slides;
• carousels;
• rocking chairs;
• swing;
• sandboxes;
• suspended bridges, etc.
Multifunctional complex "for parents' rest" can be bought, and you can make such a saving design yourself.
In a small homemade area can enter a slide, swing, sandbox and horizontal bar.
Landscaping and landscaping of the territory in front of a private house: sequence
To imagine what work “waits ” for them ahead, future designers need to get acquainted with its stages.
There are a lot of them:
• cleaning of the house and territory after construction (repair);
• its zoning, construction of auxiliary facilities (gazebo, swimming pool, pond, fence, etc.);
• creation of garden paths, sites (paving stones, paving slabs,
• rubber coating for playgrounds);
• acquisition and delivery of fertile land, sand, gravel and fertilizers, the creation of a drainage system for the site;
• planting large plants and assembling decorative structures for gardening (arches, hedges, pergolas, trellis);
• creation of a lawn, flower beds (flower beds, rock gardens, rockeries, mixborders, etc.), planting stunted trees and shrubs.
The last stages are the design of children ’ s and / or sports grounds, recreation areas, installation of lighting devices and decorative elements.
Improvement of the territory of a private house: the first steps
It is not necessary to be a designer to create a paradise on earth in miniature.
In search of inspiration and good examples, you can:
• find special literature on the improvement of the territory at a private house;
• watch on TV programs dedicated to the landscape design of the adjacent territory.
Finally, you can just go to the Internet to find very successful, cute solutions that can be transferred to “your own soil ”.
Designing
From which side to approach the arrangement of the adjacent territory of a private house?
This question is not idle, because many owners do not even have an idea of   where to start such large-scale work.
The answer is simple: the first mandatory stage in almost any business is the preparation of a plan, a project.
In this case, its authors take into account several factors:
• relief of the territory;
• size and configuration of the site;
• availability of buildings, sites, pedestrian zones;
• location of the house and other buildings, trees, shrubs, etc.
To a greater extent, the choice of design option depends on the relief of the adjacent territory.
Not very serious drops will give a chance to relatively "painless" and quickly level the surface.
Otherwise, serious costs cannot be avoided.
A possible way out in such a situation is the creation of terraces with the help of retaining walls, stairs, etc.
These elements are often constructed of stone (gabions) or brick.
A large house area makes it possible to make real everything that its owners want to see at home.
And on the contrary: a modest plot is a reason to choose only what is extremely necessary for the family, but in this case, the owners have several solutions.
Adjustments to the layout can make the type of soil and too high level of groundwater.
The fact is that such a problem area may require an effective drainage system.
The adjacent territory should not only please the eye, but also be functional, as convenient and “friendly ” as possible, and for all family members without exception.
Therefore, when planning a yard near a private house, they are always interested in the opinion of each household and, if possible, take into account all his wishes.
Functions of the adjacent territory
First of all, the authors need to determine exactly which zones will be more attractive to all family members.
There are several potential options.
The owners can consider the following “candidates ”:
1.
Recreation area.
Most often it is located near a natural or artificial reservoir.
There is often installed a barbecue (barbecue, grill, simple brazier, etc.).
2.
Area given to plants.
Potential residents of the site are fruit trees, berry shrubs, thermophilic crops (greenhouse) or flowers (greenhouse).
3.
Areas designed for active recreation.
Here you can rightfully include the pool (inflatable, frame, concrete, brick, block), sports and children's playground.
In order to maximize the improvement of the territory around the private house, many owners build extensions to the main building.
Some owners prefer open verandas, others - terraces.
The latter objects can be located separately, away from the house: for example, on a natural elevation.
Possible location of zones
Even in a spacious adjacent territory, there may not be enough space for everything that the owners would like to build or equip.
In this case, there are several exits:
1.
If there is a lack of space in the suburban area, then several zones can be combined.
For example, a recreation area may be located next to fruit trees.
It can turn into a dining room.
2.
Veranda, terrace - structures that by default become landscaped places, under or without a roof.
However, some functions can take on even a relatively spacious porch.
There you can arrange a small recreation area.
The third potential option is very compact functional areas.
Potential elements of improvement of the territory of a private house
There is a lot of such decor, but it should be noted only those “man-made creatures ” that can be found in almost any area:
1.
A variety of compositions and decorations from plants - flower beds, hedges, pergolas, etc.
2.
Garden paths, paths.
They can be considered as separate decorative elements, but they are also demarcators of different areas of the yard.
For their improvement, natural stones and paving slabs (paving stones), pebbles, small gravel are used.
The most short-lived option would be a path made of tree cuts.
Not very tall plants are often used to fence pedestrian zones.
Other popular elements of landscape design include arches, swings, small fountains, fences, garden furniture, ceramic products for growing plants and garden figures.
Separately, it is necessary to mention the lighting devices that transform the adjacent territory in the dark.
They help to highlight its functional areas, paths and paths.
Autonomous LED lights become an ideal illumination for plants, decorative elements, fountains and ponds.
What should be on the site plan?
When working on the layout of the territory of a private house, the sketch must note:
• all buildings on the site, including those that are attached to the building;
• capital pools, which will require laying of pipes;
• compositions of plants and stones (rock gardens, rockeries);
• natural or artificial reservoirs (ponds);
• places for planting shrubs and trees;
• garden paths and platforms;
• places for future beds.
The plan should be marked fences, lighting and decorative elements.
Design stages
A beautiful adjacent territory in the future almost guarantees an appeal to professionals.
On the other hand, only the owners can take into account every detail, create a unique ensemble, make it as convenient, unique, non-standard.
Development of a design project of a suburban area consists of several stages:
1.
First of all, the plan is applied to those objects that are already available "in real".
Then add all the elements that the owners only plan to build.
First they mark the main building, then additional buildings.
It is a bath, swimming pool, gazebo, garage, greenhouse, terrace, etc.
2.
If the recreation area does not yet exist, then the central part of the adjacent territory is more often chosen for it.
However, a large area makes it possible to arrange it at a distance from the house: for example, in the shade of trees, near the (future) reservoir, at the maximum distance from the entrance gate.
3.
After the completion of these stages, they proceed to the definition of territories that will be given for planting, and places for an artificial reservoir.
Since we are talking about flower beds, in this case it is necessary to take into account that plants need certain conditions (light or shadow, protection from strong wind, etc.).
The swimming pool will require communications.
Last of all, they are developing a lighting project for the site.
The main objects include the entrance to the house (porch, veranda, terrace), garage gate.
In addition, often illuminate decorative elements, spectacular trees, stairs and paths.
Registration of the adjacent territory of a private house
In this case, there are quite a few ways.
Without some "decorators" does not do any suburban area, others are less common.
Live jewelry
Landscaping of the adjacent territory is considered one of the most important stages of its improvement.
Different types of plants are used for it - trees and various shrubs, flowers, ornamental cereals, etc. Possible decorations of the site - numerous spectacular flower beds, hedges, lawns, etc.
The most attractive for most owners engaged in gardening of the garden are spectacular "many-sided" flower beds, elevated alpine slides and more concise, high and strict stone gardens.
When decorating the territory with plants, be sure to pay attention to the combination of their colors, the height and flowering period.
In addition, several other important features of cultures are taken into account.
This is the period of their life (annual, biennial, perennial), thermophilicity or the ability to withstand the cold in winter, as well as the requirements for the conditions for growth and development - to the place (sun, shade), watering, soil, etc.
Varieties of flower beds
There are a lot of such compositions.
Among the popular applicants:
• Alpine slides and rockeries (stone gardens);
• monoflowerbeds (one culture, the color can be different);
• monochrome flower beds (different flowers, inflorescences of the same color or one, close shade).
Other popular varieties of living decor are arabesques, borders, rabatki, mixborders and modular flower beds that require a relatively large area.
Possible green decor
In landscape design, various decorative containers are actively used - cones, cubes, vases and flowerpots.
For “life ” they are suitable:
• conifers (their dwarf varieties);
• thermophilic plants (brugmansia, camellia, citrus fruits);
• various herbs (lavender, marjoram and thyme, rosemary, savory).
Recently, vertical gardening is gaining popularity.
This is the name of a composition consisting of a supporting element and plants.
The support for such a spectacular decoration can be an arch, a fence, a grid, a wall, a column, a grid, a trellis and even a dry tree.
More often, climbing plants are used for these structures.
The same type of living decoration includes hanging compositions, for which various containers are used (vases, pipes, containers).
Potential crops for vertical gardening:
• Actinidia colomicta and grapes (Amur, maiden);
• sweet peas and caprifol (honeysuckle), clematis;
• Chinese lemongrass, nasturtium and climbing rose;
• pumpkin and beans (decorative), hops ordinary.
Plants can be annual or perennial.
The optimal solution is considered a combination of these cultures, since annuals make a variety, bloom lush, bright and relatively long.
If there is a natural or artificial reservoir on the site, then moisture-loving plants are often planted on its banks.
The frame for it can be astilba, brunner, mountain snake (snake), darmera, verbeinik, garden geranium, creeping zhivuchka, marsh kaluzhnitsa, Siberian iris, sedge, fern or host.
Organization of places for rest
It must be said that this zone is one of the most important zones that makes rest pleasant, relaxing, useful.
And in this case, the leaders of sympathy are several applicants.
Arbor
Such small but functional buildings can be open or closed.
The first structures are used only in the warm season, the second can serve the owners all year round.
Some gazebos have a rather modest size, they are designed for 5-6 people.
Other buildings can accommodate up to 18-20 vacationers.
Inside each structure there are chairs (benches) and a table.
Mangal zone
The most popular option is a protected hearth located under a canopy or in a gazebo.
However, there are also “fire zones ” left under the open sky.
To ensure the safety of holidaymakers, the space near the grill (grill, barbecue, stove) laid out non-combustible material.
To protect the floor, paving, porcelain tiles are often used, for walls - brick, clinker (terracotta) tiles, etc. As a rule, any focus is located at a considerable distance from trees and shrubs.
Water objects
Swimming pools are built or purchased for recreation on hot days.
Small reservoirs (ponds, fountains, waterfalls) give a chance to find "reservoirs" in miniature, even in areas of modest area.
They can be an ornament, but any water source can solve several problems.
Water bodies increase the humidity of the air, level (visually) not quite perfect relief, and also serve as drainage with excess moisture in the area.
Swings
This attribute of country life is no less popular.
Garden swing can be seen in almost every area.
They allow you to relax, read or sleep comfortably.
Such designs are easiest to buy, but they can be assembled with their own hands.
No doubt, on how to equip the territory around a private house, no one will tell better than someone who has been doing it for a long time.
For example, a useful and very informative guide can be the following popular video:
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How to arrange the area around a private house

"For a north-facing green wall with limited sun, suitable plants include ivys, heucheras, ferns, thyme, rosemary, and parsley."

Title:

Content: I don't want to jinx anything for you all but through the showers this week there have been glimpses of blue skies and glimmers of sunshine, indicating that summer may well be on its way. I love being outside as much as possible, but I have very limited outdoor space available to me.

Figuring out how to maximise my 2m by 2m courtyard garden to make it as usable as possible for me was an important part of planning my renovation. Here’s what I learned about making the best use of limited outdoor space.

As with every space, it’s important to first consider how you want to use it. For me, I wanted a few things:

Additional dining space for larger gatherings

Somewhere to lay out and relax on nice days

GREENERY

A swimming pool (ok fine so I didn’t get everything I wanted)

In a 2m x 2m space, some items on this list seemed incompatible (if not impossible), so I had to get creative.

OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING

First up, creating an outdoor dining space for entertaining, which generally requires a table and chairs. The chairs are easy and I’ll get to those, but a table is tricky — if you have limited space then a table is either a permanent feature in your garden or requires storage space that you may not have. Luckily my builder came up with a genius solution for this — he used leftover building materials to make a table that folds up against the garden wall, meaning I can have a large dining table when needed but can easily free up the space to lay out in. If you’re handy you can do the same, or you can buy pre-made folding tables designed to be mounted on walls — I have seen a range of these available on Etsy.

Chairs are simpler — I absolutely recommend having a built-in bench along one wall. It is by far the best use of space to fit people around a table. Wood or tiles are the best materials here — mine is made from the same tiles used in my downstairs bathroom, and I like the consistency that brings. Just check they’re suitable for outdoor use. For additional seating you can buy folding garden chairs which can be hung on the wall when not in use — mine are from Ikea and I spray painted them to fit my style.

One thing I plan on installing this summer is a retractable awning. These are a super way to maximise the space available to you — it means a light shower won’t ruin your outdoor dinner party. There are more affordable options that involve manually winding the awning in or out, all the way up to electronic options that also include lighting and heaters.

LYING OUT IN SUNSHINE

I will concede that due to our weather, this isn’t the most frequent way I use my garden.

However on those beautiful summer days there’s nothing better than soaking up the Irish sun!

I don’t have the storage space for a garden lounger so instead I bought myself a hammock. I couldn’t love it more. All it took was installing two hooks in the garden, and when not in use hammocks fold down to practically nothing. They’re easy to keep clean, and there’s nothing nicer than that gentle swaying motion.

Hammocks are available in a number of lengths so you’re likely to find something to fit your space — just make sure you measure correctly and leave enough space for it to move in.

If for some reason you hate hammocks, or cannot fit one, I think inflatable outdoor furniture is a great option. Again these store away much more easily than foldable furniture. Just make sure you cover the plastic with a throw or blanket — bare skin and inflatable furniture are not friends.

GREENERY

I don’t have green fingers. I have given up on gardening. I don’t have the patience to repot and replant things, and I don’t have the talent to keep pretty plants alive. However, I did want greenery to create a sense of peacefulness and to improve the air quality in my city garden.

Much like my garden table, the solution here was to go vertical. Luckily for me my friend Jonny Gannon (gannonandassociates.ie) is an exceptional landscaper, and in exchange for me making his wedding cake he installed the most beautiful vertical garden wall for me. Even I am able to (mostly) keep these plants alive — this wall is north facing and doesn’t get much sun, so what works best for me here are ivys, heucheras, and ferns. I’ve even managed some hardy herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and parsley.

The garden wall comprises felt pockets (bought on Amazon) nailed to a plywood board, which in turn is screwed onto my garden wall. The pockets act as plant pots but be warned that they dry out a lot quicker, so plenty of watering is required. Overall it’s not difficult to install and believe me— if I can maintain a garden wall, anyone can.

Q&A

QUESTION

Could you please advise where you got your vinyl tiles and who fitted them?

Sounds exactly what I'm looking for, for my kitchen & utility room. Just a bit worried about table and chair marks!! Thank you very much.

ANSWER

I bought my LVT flooring from Deco Designs in Dublin. The brand is Moduleo. I’m really happy with both the brand and the fitter, happy to recommend both. Some other LVT brands you could check out are Karndean and Amtico. In my experience nothing has marked this floor — I drag my table, chairs, bike, stilettos, wheelie suitcases, couch, across it and it so far seems pretty indestructible. Any scuffs have been very easy to clean.

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Vertical gardens provide benefits in small spaces by beautifying the environment and improving the quality of life for residents.

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Content: Did you know that more and more liveable buildings like a three-dimensional park will appear in Taichung City? The Taichung City Government implemented the “Measures to Encourage the Establishment and Feedback of Liveable Building Facilities in Taichung City ”, which has reached its third anniversary and has applied for 117 construction licenses, of which 88 have been approved.
In order to present the results of the implementation of the Measures and to present the urban development vision of Taichung as a “New International Portal, a Happy and Liveable City ”, the Urban Development Bureau of the Taichung Municipal Government and the Taichung Architect Association will hold the“ Exhibition of Works of the 3rd Anniversary of Taichung City ’ s Liveable Architecture ” in the lobby of the first floor of the Dadun Cultural Center. Interested people are welcome to visit.
Climate change is an important global issue, and the task of zero carbon emissions and greenhouse gas reduction cannot be postponed.
In order to promote livable buildings and build a vertical green ecosystem in the city to achieve the goal of effectively improving the urban heat island effect and reducing carbon emissions in the city, the Taichung City Government has implemented the "Measures to Encourage the Installation and Feedback of Liveable Building Facilities in Taichung City" since March 26, 2019.
As of May 6, 111, there are 117 construction applications, a total of 88 construction licenses have been approved, and 3 use licenses have been issued. Among them, a total of 3,043 trees have been added due to the construction of livable facilities, and the carbon sequestration amount has increased by 13,845 tons, which is equivalent to the creation of about 2 Wenxin Forest Park. Small community neighborhood parks, through the way of "one project, one park", to compensate for the lack of vertical greening in the city, not only beautify the urban environment, but also improve the quality of the residents' living environment, and make Taichung a beautiful and livable happy garden city.
Huang Wenbin, director of the Urban Development Bureau of Taichung City Government, stressed that the formulation of the measures is intended to be of a public welfare nature and to seek the best livable life for the citizens.
If the project plans vertical greening facilities, the floor area of the building will be exempted from award setting (the maximum allowable area is 10% of the legal volume), and it will not be included in the building surveying and ownership registration area, so as to prevent harm and avoid raising the price of the house.
At the same time, based on the principle of public plains, the construction company pays a rebate for the floor portion of the building without volume, of which 60% is provided for the follow-up management committee to manage and maintain livable facilities, and the other 40% is used as a livable building research and development and special landscape green energy development subsidy fund.
If you want to learn more about Taichung ’ s liveable architecture design, you can ’ t miss the “Taichung City Liveable Architecture 3rd Anniversary Exhibition ”.
The exhibition will be held at 10: 00 a.m. on June 17 at the Dadun Cultural Center in Taichung City, followed by a livable forum discussing topics such as livable architecture, sustainable ecological city, vertical greening, and new aesthetics of Taichung city.
For more information about the exhibition, please visit the website of the Taichung Municipal Government.
(Taichung City Government Advertisement)
# Taichung City # Liveable Building # Construction # Taichung City Government # Exhibition

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The city government is adapting to the local climate by choosing plant varieties that are durable and have a good impact on the environment.

"Vertical green walls can reduce indoor temperature by approximately 1.8 ℃, in addition to providing other environmental benefits such as air purification."