"Vertical gardens offer environmental benefits including temperature regulation and air purification, making them a valuable component of urban greening initiatives, especially in densely populated areas."

"Indoor green walls provide multiple benefits including improving indoor air quality through dust retention and air pollution absorption, as well as regulating temperature, which can positively impact mental health and overall environmental comfort."

"Green roofs can help make cities more climate-resilient by reducing the urban heat island effect and stormwater run-off, similar to how green areas promote water retention and reduce flooding."

Green walls can improve indoor air quality, retain dust, absorb air pollution, and regulate temperature, which are similar to the environmental benefits of green roofs, such as reducing energy consumption, improving air quality, and increasing biodiversity.

"Vertical gardens offer aesthetic benefits, creating a beautiful and impressive atmosphere, and may also have mental health benefits, providing a relieving and healing environment."

When selecting plants for a vertical garden, it's essential to consider the local climate and choose suitable plants for that specific climate.

"Ivy and ferns are suitable plants for vertical gardens, especially in areas with high humidity like bathrooms, and can contribute to a balanced and aesthetically pleasing space."

When choosing plants for different climates, it's essential to consider factors such as plant hardiness zone, cost, and whether the plants are perennials to ensure they thrive and provide long-term enjoyment.

Suitable plants should be chosen for vertical gardens based on different climates to ensure their survival and effectiveness.

Vertical green walls can lower indoor temperatures by approximately 1.8 ℃, as supported by study results from the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Vertical gardens offer environmental benefits including temperature regulation and air purification, making them a valuable component of urban greening initiatives, especially in densely populated areas."

Title:

Content: Africa Has Its First Chief Heat Officer. Five Things Should Be On Her Agenda

24 February 2023
analysis

Freetown's heat officer can set an example to Africa and the world as temperatures and risks rise.

Eugenia Kargbo has an unusual job: she is the city of Freetown's chief heat officer. Her role in Sierra Leone's capital is the first of its kind in Africa. She has been tasked with raising public awareness about extreme heat, improving responses to heat waves, and collecting, analysing and visualising heat impact data for the city, which is home to 1.2 million people.

Freetown is increasingly threatened by dangerous temperatures. In 2017, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ranked Sierra Leone third, after Bangladesh and Guinea Bissau, on its list of countries most vulnerable to climate change.

The risks are concentrated in its capital and largest city, Freetown, where some 35% of the population live in 74 informal settlements like Kroo Bay, often in disaster-prone areas like the seafront or hillsides. Houses are densely built and typically temporary structures made of "heat trapping" materials. Services that supports cooling, such as water and electricity, are usually inadequate.

As an architect whose work includes researching ways to reduce heat in African cities, I think the creation of an Heat Officer position is a good move. The world's cities are almost all getting hotter and, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned, temperatures will only keep rising.

But, while this is a global challenge, African cities are unique. The significant proportion of urban dwellers who are poor and those whose living conditions do not provide adequate shelter from the elements make the African context unique and deserving special attention.

With these realities in mind, here are five things I'd suggest should be on the agenda of both Kargbo and any other heat officer appointed elsewhere on the continent in future.

1. Take a diverse approach to urban greening

Nature-based approaches are a great way to address increasing temperatures linked to climate change. Scholars have established positive links between green infrastructure, temperature moderation and even health outcomes in African cities as well as elsewhere in the world.

This has informed a growing number of tree-planting initiatives and the development of urban parks. But it is important that municipalities move beyond only these kinds of spaces. African cities are becoming densely populated; that means less space will be available for greening initiatives on land.

Vertical systems of building (for example on walls, roofs, columns) and urban infrastructure (for example on bridges, road furniture) should be explored to make up for the lack of space on the ground.

In the last few years, I have led the design and development of experimental vertical gardens in low-income areas of Nigeria and Tanzania. We have shown that these vertical gardens reduce wall temperature of residential buildings by as much as 5°C in Dar es Salaam. The gardens have other benefits like providing fresh vegetables for household consumption. Similar ways of growing vegetation vertically have been seen elsewhere in the world, including in Mexico City.

2. Strengthen the link between heat and health

Exposure to extreme heat usually comes with health problems - and can even kill people, as I and many other scholars have documented. It exacerbates underlying health conditions.

One area of concern when it comes to the heat-health nexus in African countries is that mosquito numbers increase in higher temperatures. This means malaria and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes might become significant problems for Freetown and other African cities.

These health problems are further complicated by the fact that many city dwellers across the continent can't access adequate and affordable health care. Community health initiatives within cities and efforts to ramp up health services in qualitative and quantitative terms must be integral to heat adaptation plans and actions.

3. Focus on early warning and improved awareness

It is far better to be proactive than reactive. Heat vulnerability patterns within Freetown and other African cities must be studied and used to make sense of weather predictions in order to inform warning systems.

In the warning systems, for example, an alert level can be triggered when the weather forecast shows three or more consecutive days with daytime maximum temperature and humidity above a threshold of, say, 30°C. Other levels of alerts can correspond with higher temperatures. This sort of system has been implemented in Toronto, Canada, with good outcomes. A recent study of urban areas in Ontario (the province where Toronto is located) shows that early warnings may have meant fewer heat-related illnesses severe enough to warrant hospital or clinic visits.

4. Encourage the transfer of knowledge

Cities can adapt to heat faster when they share knowledge and experiences. Some scholars argue that inter-city collaboration and knowledge-sharing can enhance municipalities' resilience and improve urban residents' skills to deal with heat-related issues.

Kargbo's work will generate many lessons that can be shared with other African cities; she, too, will learn from other cities' successes and failures.

5. Let locals lead

While there is plenty to learn from more developed countries outside Africa, it is important to also draw from local indigenous knowledge and practices. An examination of knowledge and awareness about climate-related and environmental problems in African traditional society shows there is much to be learned from indigenous systems.

Top-down approaches are not enough. They must be complemented by bottom-up approaches in the planning, funding, execution and assessment of heat adaptation initiatives.

Inclusion is also important because it shifts power to those who are most affected by heat - people living in low-income and informal areas are disproportionately affected. Involving them enhances the impacts of initiatives and interventions.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Olumuyiwa Adegun is a Senior Lecturer, Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure.

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"Indoor green walls provide multiple benefits including improving indoor air quality through dust retention and air pollution absorption, as well as regulating temperature, which can positively impact mental health and overall environmental comfort."

Title:

Content: In order to improve the environmental air quality and let children learn with peace of mind, the Taichung Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has continued to build a clean air green wall in the school. This year, 12 schools in Jianping Elementary School, Juren Elementary School and Chongde Elementary School have received subsidies from the Environmental Protection Department.
According to the Environmental Protection Bureau, through the installation of clean air green walls, indoor air quality can be improved. At present, space such as classroom corridors and flower stands outside the daughter wall in Taichung City can be planted, which can achieve the benefits of dust retention, air pollution absorption and temperature regulation.
In order to strengthen the protection of the school environment for children, the Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau expanded the subsidy for the construction of a clean air green wall on the campus, and the current subsidy amount to 1.76 million yuan, with an area of 358 square meters.
The Environmental Protection Bureau stressed that currently selected plants that can purify the air and do not need to spend too much money and time to maintain include the Dragon Tubeh, the Junzi and Wu Bamboo, the Turtle, the Cannonflower or the Honeysuckle.
How good is the effect of clean air green wall?
According to international research, vertical clean air green walls can reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) by about 40% and 60%. In addition, green walls can also reduce the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in classrooms by about 10% and the concentration of ozone (O3) by about 30%.
Green wall is the most natural and energy efficient air purification facilities, no need to plug in electricity, self-circulation, to achieve the purpose of air purification, can be called the "most environmentally friendly air purifier".
Chen Hongyi, director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, said that in addition to blocking outdoor pollutants and improving indoor air, the air green wall can also adjust the temperature and drive energy conservation and carbon reduction. Next year, Taichung City is expected to expand the subsidy target, including community activity centers, public kindergartens and environmental night markets.
# Green Wall # Air # Cleanliness # Campus # Environment

"Green roofs can help make cities more climate-resilient by reducing the urban heat island effect and stormwater run-off, similar to how green areas promote water retention and reduce flooding."

Title:

Content: Cities in which we live
0
Anastasia Schwartz
By 2050, the UN estimates that almost 70% of the world ’ s population will live in cities, making sustainable urbanization one of the priorities of global development.
collage by Pavel Tsedilin
Urbanization is still one of the main global trends of the 21st century and requires close attention.
In fact, how cities develop will determine the future of countries and societies, as well as the solution of many problems of global importance.
The fact is that most of the inhabitants of the Earth do not just live in cities.
Cities account for about 60% of global GDP.
Cities are the leaders in energy consumption (60-80%) and CO2 emissions (about 75%).
Cities are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and other global threats, but they can also make a significant contribution to combating them.
The high concentration of the population in cities critically exacerbates the problems of inequality, security, access to public and economic benefits.
Kazakhstan also faces all the challenges and threats of urbanization.
In our country, the share of the urban population already has more than 60%, and this figure will only grow.
According to the UN, in the coming decades, 95% of urbanization in principle will fall on developing countries.
Therefore, the question of how to make cities sustainable, safe, open, liveable, conducive to economic growth and even the formation of a new quality of the nation is not a question of some abstract future, but a problem whose solution should have begun, as they say, yesterday.
Diseases of growth
In the Sustainable Development Goals, the global agenda of the UN until 2030, a separate SDG is devoted to urban development: it goes under number 11 and is formulated as follows: “Sustainable cities and human settlements ”.
Sustainability is not just about the environment.
The economy and infrastructure of cities must also be sustainable, they must be safe and convenient for people, and they must ensure equal access to the benefits of urbanization for all.
They should contribute to the development of people and societies, the preservation of cultural heritage and so on.
In short, human settlements development should solve the problems of the people living there, not create new ones.
Cities should be drivers of development of countries and societies, not a source of “headaches ”.
The fact that sustainable urban development has become one of the key topics on the global agenda is more than justified.
According to experts, since 2007, more than half of the world ’ s population lives in cities.
And by the middle of the century, according to UN estimates, this figure will grow to almost 70%.
Cities occupy less than 5% of the Earth ’ s land area.
Rapid urbanization obviously carries great risks for which many countries were not prepared.
“Growth diseases ” in all cities, in principle, are similar: housing problems, chaotic growth, congestion of infrastructure (both transport and engineering, social), deterioration of air quality, and so on.
Many of these problems are familiar to the cities of Kazakhstan.
Take at least Astana, which, even being a completely new and relatively small city, is fully faced with the challenges of urbanization: ill-conceived and poor-quality development, interruptions in water supply, smog, traffic jams, environmental problems, lack of schools, underdevelopment of public spaces, uneven development of different areas of the city...
The burden on all urban systems will only increase, and at an even faster pace than before.
Recall: 25 years ago, there were a little more than 326 thousand inhabitants in the Kazakh capital.
Already in 2016, the city officially became a millionaire.
Forecasts made before the pandemic said that Astana will overcome the threshold of 2 million inhabitants by the middle of the 21st century, but according to recent estimates, the time to achieve such a population has shifted by 2030 (20 years earlier!).
If you do not take systematic and decisive measures to eliminate existing problems and imbalances, as well as do not pay due attention to planning the development of the capital, it is unlikely to make Astana a sustainable and comfortable city for life.
At the same time, it is important to understand that the principles of sustainability in urban planning are not another “fashionable topic ”, but things that are critically important for any state.
Inadequate urban planning (or lack thereof) leads to the emergence of slums and affluent areas, increases inequality, reduces security, and contributes to economic and social development.
All these factors directly affect urban residents, and given the fact that they are becoming more and more, this directly affects the nation and, accordingly, the country as a whole.
The low quality of life forms a negative attitude of people to their habitat (not only the city, but also the country), provokes social nihilism and a decrease in trust in the authorities.
The growth of creative and business activity in such conditions is also quite difficult to talk about.
An analogy can be drawn.
It is unlikely that someone will like to live in an apartment in which half of the rooms have no lighting, in the second half there are no electrical outlets, in the hallway there is no place to leave your shoes removed, a place for rest is not provided in principle, you need to go to the refrigerator through three neighboring corridors, and to the elevator - to the other end of the building.
In which drinking water did not have time to spend, but the bathroom turns into a smelly pond every time someone in the house flushed water in the toilet.
And there is always a chance that you on the balcony will begin work on the construction of another apartment.
Living in a city planned in a similar way is also not much fun.
“The main indicator of the success of megacities, in my opinion, should be the quality of life of their residents, ” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the forum dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Astana.
It is difficult to disagree with this thesis, and it hardly makes sense to explain for a long time why human-centricity in urban studies is so important: cities are people, and how people feel, so will the city.
Space for people
But what exactly is meant when it comes to a “friendly ” urban environment?
Urbanism as a science of urban development planning has existed for more than a century, and during this time, trends in urban planning have changed more than once, influenced by technological progress, digitalization, social trends, global challenges, even ideologies.
Today, perhaps, the key trend is precisely the same sustainability.
In the context of urbanism, this means creating cities that contribute to the preservation of the environment, ensure economic prosperity, a high quality of life and the safety of all residents – for generations to come.
A few years ago, the OECD published a review of urban policy in Kazakhstan, which, among other things, pointed to the existing problems of urbanization.
In particular, there were such as an increase in the level of motorization, the decline of urban public transport, traffic jams; low satisfaction of citizens with housing conditions; outdated public infrastructure; air pollution.
Although measures have been taken in recent years to address these issues, these problems remain very relevant.
At the same time, in the already mentioned SDG No. 11, one of the tasks is to ensure that by 2030 everyone can use safe, inexpensive, affordable and environmentally sustainable transport systems by improving road safety, in particular, expanding the use of public transport.
Actually, one of the important modern trends in urban planning is the creation of an environment that will not require a person to frequently use a personal car.
Now in the cities of Kazakhstan, they prevail as the main means of transportation, which obviously affects the severity of such problems as traffic jams, parking, deterioration of air quality, safety.
To create an environment in which citizens can safely abandon their personal cars, it is necessary on several levels.
First of all, improve the public transport system and make the road infrastructure convenient for pedestrians (even the new and modern Astana cannot boast of this yet).
In addition, the development and improvement of urban areas should go in such a way that everything necessary for a person in everyday life is at a distance of a small walk: shops, kindergartens, schools, medical institutions, recreational areas and so on.
Low satisfaction of citizens with their living conditions, the authors of the OECD survey are mostly associated with the economic inaccessibility of “square meters ” for a significant part of the population, the quality of construction, problems with communal infrastructure.
At the same time, we can safely add such factors as the lack of social infrastructure, point development, lack of public spaces, low accessibility of the urban environment for people with disabilities, even the aesthetic unattractiveness of streets, courtyards and buildings...
All this significantly affects the quality of life of a person in the city.
“Victims ” of point construction, for example, are well aware that it is difficult to enjoy staying in their own apartment, when outside the window for two or three years in a row, seven days a week there is pile driving and other highly noisy construction activity.
And it is still very lucky if during the construction of a new residential complex, the load on the infrastructure of the district was provided, so as not to multiply the sadness associated with the shortage of water, parking spaces, places in kindergartens and schools.
It is very important to understand that high-quality and attractive public spaces are also not part of the “something on the rich ” series.
And this concept includes not only large city parks, squares, but also recreational areas within residential areas and neighborhoods.
Places where people can walk, socialize, relax, engage in physical activity are an integral part of the urban environment, and they should not be the prerogative of elite residential complexes, but a good that is available absolutely for all citizens.
In large cities, such public spaces should be created everywhere, in every microdistrict, because they play a very important function of building up “social capital ” – creating communities of local residents, connections between people, an atmosphere of good neighborliness.
All this creates a favorable environment for increasing civic engagement and people ’ s involvement in solving local problems.
As the territories of cities become more and more, polycentricity and multifunctionality of districts become especially important when planning megacities: their points of attraction, attractions, parks, large shopping and entertainment centers, places for quality leisure and even potential places of employment should be in every district of the city, including its geographical periphery.
The same goes for public transportation.
This approach not only solves the problem of concentration of people in one place (so as not to create an unbearable load on the urban infrastructure), but also contributes to the uniform and balanced development of the entire city, without “distortions ”, when sparkling skyscrapers and elegant squares coexist with crumbling houses and dull sleeping areas with giant budget“ men ”, the marginalization of which, especially on the outskirts It is a matter of time.
Greening and Adapting
In the context of urban studies, special attention is paid to the environmental sustainability of cities.
In particular, we are talking about such areas as reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, introducing green technologies, protecting biodiversity, improving waste management systems, and landscaping.
On the last and we will stop in more detail.
Competent landscape design, the right approach to gardening in cities can solve a whole set of problems.
So, green spaces (trees, shrubs, lawns, etc.) help in the thermoregulation of cities - a particularly popular quality, given the fact that heat waves are increasingly covering cities.
According to experts of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Programme of the United Nations), the strategic placement of trees in urban areas can lower the air temperature by 2-8 degrees Celsius.
Plus, the shadow of the trees in principle makes the city streets more comfortable for people.
According to the FAO, properly placed trees around a building can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and reduce energy consumption for heating by 20 – 50%.
Since school, we know that trees absorb CO2 (an adult tree can “eat ” up to 150 kg per year) and bind carbon, playing a role in mitigating climate change.
Green plantations play an important role in air purification: large trees are excellent filters for pollutants and fine particles.
They also regulate watercourses and improve water quality.
In addition, green areas promote water retention and reduce the risk of flooding by absorbing rainwater and slowing down runoff.
Greening cities contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and the creation of more viable ecosystems.
Plants provide shelter and food for various species of animals and insects, which helps maintain ecological balance in cities.
In the context of the concept of “cities for people ”, landscaping in megacities has another very important profit: green spaces contribute to improving the physical health and psychological well-being of citizens.
As experts emphasize, landscaping can and should be included literally in any urban projects, not only creating park areas, but also designing, for example, parking lots, roads, interior spaces and so on.
In 2020, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his Address, speaking about solving environmental issues, set the task to plant more than 2 billion trees in the forest fund in Kazakhstan and 15 million in settlements by 2025.
At a recent meeting on the development of Astana, the Head of State again raised the issue of landscaping – not only the capital, but also other cities of the country.
At the same time, he emphasized that landscaping should be carried out in accordance with the pace of construction, as well as using a scientific approach and new technologies both in planting and caring for trees.
As already noted, cities occupy less than 5% of the earth ’ s land mass.
But the United Nations estimates that they account for 60-80% of energy consumption, about 75% of the world ’ s carbon emissions, about 60% of all waste on the planet.
All this makes the solution of the issues of improving the environmental sustainability of cities crucial from the point of view of combating climate change and increasing adaptation to it on a global scale.
And the well-known principle of “think globally, act locally ” is very useful here.
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Green walls can improve indoor air quality, retain dust, absorb air pollution, and regulate temperature, which are similar to the environmental benefits of green roofs, such as reducing energy consumption, improving air quality, and increasing biodiversity.

"Vertical gardens offer aesthetic benefits, creating a beautiful and impressive atmosphere, and may also have mental health benefits, providing a relieving and healing environment."

Title:

Content: Make your home more stylish!
6 wonderful examples of ornamental plants
Genie Chien
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Do you like gardening? If you like flowers and plants, you can use ornamental plants as materials for interior decoration! Green has a natural beauty and charm, and it is easy to match with furniture and space, which is an indispensable element of interior decoration.
With them, even if it is not a beautiful house, it can make your home look radiant with fresh green.
Let ’ s take a look at the 6 ideas that make a stylish home out of plants!
Example 1: The Little Forest in the House
Do you want to live in a forest?
The designer saw through your mind and specially redesigned this house into a forest landscape.
This home is made of light wood and white, where green plants grow everywhere, creating a beautiful visual feel.
Living here, you can feel the natural atmosphere in all seasons, and your body and mind will feel extremely relaxed and comfortable!
Example 2: Bold use of plants to decorate home space
This open space combines a living room, dining room and kitchen, where designers use plants to make bold décor.
The rows of trees grow against the wall to form a beautiful vision. The indoor movement line is unparalleled, and living here is not only extremely relieving, but also can breathe the green verdant at the same time!
Example 3: Green interior wall
The interior is decorated with a vertically-green botanical garden, from the ceiling to the floor. Not only is it impressive at first glance, but the three-dimensional shape is even more impressive! Facing these greenery every day is the most healing secret of the busy world!
Example 4: A relaxing bathroom with a vacation style
Bathrooms with high humidity are also good for growing plants.
Here, the designer uses white and green to make your bathroom a vacation retreat.
Ivy and ferns are ideal choices, and the space forms a balanced color, so beautiful that people do not want to leave!
Example 5: Small green garden on the shelf
It is also a good idea to combine small ornamental plants with small accessories.
This way, using a rustic vine basket and small utensils, with beautiful green plants, creates a mini botanical garden in the space.
It not only makes the space more efficient, but also adds a lot of fun to life.
Example 6: Smart use of the outdoor garden
This residence has green plants planted on the outdoor balcony, allowing their verdant greenery to penetrate the interior.
Sitting in the living room, you can observe the growth of plants through a large area of glass windows.
In order to make the whole picture look beautiful as a painting, the designer took special care to choose the right plant to make the perfect match, so that the visual beauty is more divided!
If you are looking for inspiration to decorate your home, you must not miss the following articles:
12 Lighting Designs to Light Up the Appearance of Your Home!
Do you need someone to help you design or build your home?
Find a professional now!
Find out more about home design!

When selecting plants for a vertical garden, it's essential to consider the local climate and choose suitable plants for that specific climate.

Title:

Content: AD It Yourself

How to Create an Outdoor Oasis When You’re Short on Space

Experts chime in with smart solutions for limited backyard square footage, from plant propagation to thinking vertically

Though we can daydream of summer lunches beneath a pergola, the reality for many of us is that square footage is limited. But with great small backyard ideas, having limited outdoor space shouldn’t be a reason to discard your fantasy of a lush retreat at home. There are many innovative ways to craft an inviting outdoor retreat yourself, from layering your plants strategically to using multipurpose furniture. Below, we asked three experts to weigh in on how to create a compact oasis that will leave guests wondering your secrets.

Figure out your budget and plant hardiness zone

Maryah Greene, New York–based plant doctor, stylist, and founder of Greene Piece, recommends putting some thought into how much you’d like to spend and what plants will work best in your zone. “Consider this before going hard and decking your outdoor space out [completely], because you may find that you only get to enjoy those plants for a few months unless they’re perennials,” she advises. “The most common mistake that people make is investing a ton of money into their outdoor space just to realize that some of those plants won’t grow back next year!”

When choosing plants for a truly tight space, Fernando Rubio, landscape architect and founder of Defined Outdoors, picks plants that thrive in those conditions. “Opt for compact varieties such as herbs, dwarf shrubs, and container-friendly trees,” he says. “Also, consider using small-size foliage to add a layered, multidepth feel to your outdoor space.”

For budget-conscious DIY’ers, Greene suggests repurposing extra indoor items as planters or decorative elements. You should also try propagating, she says. “Different plants propagate differently, but for the ones that are cutting propagations, plop your cutting into a jar of water until it roots. From there, you can plant it in your garden or outdoor space without spending a dime on a new plant.”

Find practical solutions for your tiny footprint

Lacking a “typical” outdoor space? Small space consultant, author, designer, and stylist Whitney Leigh Morris dares you to get creative when it comes to small backyard ideas. “Even the tiniest slice of outdoor space surrounding your home can be transformed into a functional and tranquil retreat without much effort,” she says. “A stoop, driveway, porch, or miniature garden can all be effective ways to enlarge and enhance your living space. In order to maximize utility, keep reality in mind rather than being lured into styles that don’t suit your practical needs or the qualities of your surroundings.”

One of Greene’s favorite ways for urbanites to flex their green thumbs is by planting in window boxes. “If your fire escape allows you to sit a small planter right outside your window, this can make for a great place to grow herbs or add a few colorful flowers,” she adds. Just remember to keep safety first; avoid obstructing the pathway. Morris is a fan of container gardens, “whether [it’s] repurposed, staggered-height pots, wall-mounted vessels, or balcony planters,” she says.

All three experts were keen on the idea of vertical gardening. “Vertical elements like hanging planters, wall-mounted planters, trellises, and pedestals can draw the eye upwards, creating the illusion of more space. Plus these elements can also add privacy and serve as a focal point in your outdoor space,” Rubio says.

Make it an extension of your home

You don’t need a massive patio or garden for dreamy indoor-outdoor living. The key is continuity: Decorate your outdoor space just like you would your interiors. “Don’t overlook ambiance,” Morris says. “It’s not just important for visual impact, but for your nervous system and well-being too. Soft, warm-hued lighting; soothing sounds; lush greenery; textile layers such as outdoor rugs and upholstery; and privacy borders, from billowing curtains to trellises to folding screens, can all play a vital and impactful role in establishing a serene setting.”

Lighting can make all the difference in how your space feels,” Rubio adds. “Adding some ambient lighting like string lights or lanterns can create a warm and inviting atmosphere. If you’re handy, task lighting—like spotlights or pendant lights—can also highlight specific areas or features.”

Rubio also advises keeping the design simple and pared back, if that’s your vibe. “When working with limited space, a minimalist approach to layout and design can make your space feel more spacious and relaxing,” he says. “Streamlined design elements, a simple color palette, and plenty of negative space can help create a visually appealing and calming outdoor oasis. Plus it makes maintenance a lot easier in the long run.”

Prioritize function

To make sure your small outdoor space is one you’ll actually use, consider what will make the reimagined zone work best for you. “For example, if you get abundant rain, make sure to use weather-proof pieces and incorporate waterproof storage into your design features,” Morris offers. “If you entertain a great deal, keep not only your guests in mind but also their belongings. Where will everything be placed to avoid overcrowding when you host? If your outdoor area is exposed to ongoing direct sun, explore safe methods of blocking the sun through plants, umbrellas, or sail shades.”

For Greene, it’s all about growing what you can use. “Herbs, veggies, flowers…if you cook a lot or just enjoy the occasional bouquet on your table, save yourself money and reward yourself,” she says.

Meanwhile, Rubio recommends smart outdoor furniture: “In small outdoor spaces every inch counts, so incorporating multifunctional elements can be a game changer,” he says. “Benches with built-in storage or planters that double as seating can maximize your space and make your outdoor area more practical. Modular furniture is also a smart option, allowing you to easily rearrange and adapt your space as needed.”

"Ivy and ferns are suitable plants for vertical gardens, especially in areas with high humidity like bathrooms, and can contribute to a balanced and aesthetically pleasing space."

When choosing plants for different climates, it's essential to consider factors such as plant hardiness zone, cost, and whether the plants are perennials to ensure they thrive and provide long-term enjoyment.

Suitable plants should be chosen for vertical gardens based on different climates to ensure their survival and effectiveness.

Vertical green walls can lower indoor temperatures by approximately 1.8 ℃, as supported by study results from the Environmental Protection Agency.

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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