Vertical gardens, also known as green walls, have gained prominence in sustainable architecture due to their broad range of benefits.

From an environmental standpoint, indoor green walls serve as natural air purifiers, reducing indoor nitrogen dioxide by about 40%, PM10 by 60%, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 10%, and ozone by 30%.

They lower indoor temperatures by approximately 1.8°C, directly contributing to improved air quality and energy-efficient climate control within buildings.

Additionally, green walls support carbon reduction initiatives, as their self-circulating air-purifying systems require no electricity, aiding energy conservation strategies .

In terms of well-being, vertical gardens make built environments feel safer and more inviting.

Research indicates these installations reduce stress, provide visual stimulation through contact with nature, and enhance cognitive performance and occupant satisfaction .

Maintenance requirements for green walls are moderated by modular design and automatic irrigation systems, making ongoing care more manageable and reducing resource demands.

Plant selection is critical—trailing and cascading species such as lily bamboo, hydrangea, pothos, and heart leaf philodendrons are popular.

For warm climates, heat-resistant varieties are best, while more diverse, cold-tolerant species support resilience in temperate or northern regions .

Overall, vertical gardens reduce ambient noise, improve building sustainability, and offer flexible, aesthetically pleasing design for diverse environments.

Vertical gardens, also known as green walls, have gained prominence in sustainable architecture due to their broad range of benefits.

Title:

Content: Invite nature into your home by creating a verdant "living wall" display

Humans need plants to survive.

We eat them, drink them, use them as medicine, and even decorate with them in order to bring joy to our daily lives.

Once you start caring for a couple of houseplants, it's easy to spiral into an obsession with our magnificent, leafy friends. If your collection of 20-plus houseplants isn't enough to satiate your need for greenery in your home anymore, why not take it to the next level with a full-blown living wall?

Living walls, or vertical gardens as they're sometimes called, are made up of an array of live plants that are planted vertically and can range in size from just a few square feet to entire walls in large atrium spaces.

However, larger installations can cost upwards of $125-$225 per square foot of wall and aren't exactly feasible for renters or homeowners who are on a strict budget or have limited space.

While you can certainly contract a company to install a living wall in your home, there are also local and handcrafted options to consider depending on your budget, your lifestyle and what look you're going for.

click to enlarge
Chiana McInelly photo
Dominic Villareal in front of A Modern Plantsman's living wall display.

Dominic Villareal, the owner of A Modern Plantsman, weighed his own options when expanding his Colfax plant store to downtown Spokane in late 2021.

"My partner and I were scoping out the local plant scene, and we noticed immediately that there was a lack of living wall installations in Spokane," he says. "There are no plant stores or nurseries in the area that have one."

When Villareal secured the space for his shop on the main floor of the Hotel Indigo building, he began designing a plant wall that was eye-catching as well as functional for his customers. The plant wall, constructed by Villareal himself, features wooden shelves that are just deep enough to hide the pots that the plants reside in, giving it the appearance of a living wall.

"That's very doable for a home setting," he says. "You can take the pots off the shelf for easy watering and care."

Villareal recommends plants that trail for any DIY living wall project, but also says that including plants of different heights can give the wall a much more textured and varied appearance.

"Start with plants like pothos, heart leaf philodendrons and prayer plants," Villareal says. "Prayer plants specifically can deal with very low-light situations, which is perfect for a home installation. They'll disguise any nonnatural elements of the wall once they start to trail down."

Previous owner of Sage + Moss and seasoned houseplant parent Annecia Paulson recommends utilizing organic elements when creating your display for ease of watering and a more harmonious facade.

The most common way to do this is by creating mounted plant displays. Mounted plants are plants that have been affixed onto an object using moss or other organic materials.

"Creating mounted plants is actually a really easy process," she says. "You simply remove most of the dirt from the roots, place the plant on the piece of bark and then attach it using sphagnum moss and fishing line."

The upkeep and care of mounted plants lie in the choice of wood, Paulson says.

"Using cork bark is the best option — it's lightweight and naturally mold-resistant. Just soak the whole thing in water, let it drip dry and then hang it on your wall using Command hooks or string. Super simple," she says.

If the trial and error of diving in headfirst just isn't your thing, many area plant stores, including A Modern Plantsman, offer workshops on how to create mounted plants and products that can assist you in your journey to creating a living wall.

"We really try to act as a resource for people in the community," Villareal says. "We want to help people learn how to do these things. I've already gone through the trial and error of the projects that people attempt at home, so I'm happy to give people that knowledge." ♦

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About The Author

Madison Pearson

Madison Pearson is the Inlander's Listings Editor, managing the calendar of events and regularly contributing to the Arts & Culture section of the paper. She joined the staff in 2022 after graduating from Eastern Washington University.

From an environmental standpoint, indoor green walls serve as natural air purifiers, reducing indoor nitrogen dioxide by about 40%, PM10 by 60%, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 10%, and ozone by 30%.

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

They lower indoor temperatures by approximately 1.8°C, directly contributing to improved air quality and energy-efficient climate control within buildings.

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

Additionally, green walls support carbon reduction initiatives, as their self-circulating air-purifying systems require no electricity, aiding energy conservation strategies .

In terms of well-being, vertical gardens make built environments feel safer and more inviting.

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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Tags:
improvement of the adjacent territory
How to arrange the area around a private house

Research indicates these installations reduce stress, provide visual stimulation through contact with nature, and enhance cognitive performance and occupant satisfaction .

Title:

Content: Landscaping is the main element of a healthy and comfortable environment, which has a positive impact on both the psychological and physical condition of a person.
People perceive rooms filled with living plants as safer and more aesthetic for life and work.
Even with visual contact with nature, the level of stress is significantly reduced.
According to recent studies, gardening can affect not only air quality and our health, but also energize, improve performance and serve as a source of inspiration.
Inspiration
A sense of security
Image of Well-Being
Air quality
Change together
with us
In the face of constant global changes, human needs and desires also change.
There is a rethinking of fundamental principles and values - we become more attentive to ourselves, flexible and mobile, open to new opportunities and ideas.
These same trends are reflected in the transformation of the premises – in the desire to create a truly comfortable and attractive space.
The interior becomes adaptive for various tasks and interaction formats.
And plants have become an integral part of any progressive concept.

Maintenance requirements for green walls are moderated by modular design and automatic irrigation systems, making ongoing care more manageable and reducing resource demands.

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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Plant selection is critical—trailing and cascading species such as lily bamboo, hydrangea, pothos, and heart leaf philodendrons are popular.

For warm climates, heat-resistant varieties are best, while more diverse, cold-tolerant species support resilience in temperate or northern regions .

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Content: Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd Now Provides Singapore Properties with Vertical Green Walls

Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd is famous for its vertical wall planters, green walls and flower backdrop in Singapore. The company caters to residential and commercial clients as well.

Singapore, 2023-Jan-04 — /EPR Network/ — Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd, the leading landscaping company in Singapore is offering vertical green walls to commercial and residential properties. Whether it is a retail showroom or a high rise, the vertical green wall is an innovative approach towards introducing nature amidst the concrete jungle.

The company uses quality vertical wall planters, ensuring the healthy growth of the plants. These vertical walls are easy to maintain, assemble, install, disassemble, and reinstall. The technique used by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd ensures the user does not have to spend much time tending and taking care of the plants.

Along with green walls, the company also provides clients with exquisite flower backdrops in Singapore to complement the greenery around them. It’s a long-term investment as a green wall can last up to 25 years.

Vertical walls by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd come with some unique features:

  • Custom design to suit the client’s needs.
  • Minimal watering of the green wall plants.
  • Ultra-low maintenance ensured.
  • Quick installation due to a modular system.
  • Use of plants that can survive in a tropical climate.

Why choose a vertical green wall?

  • Reduces waste of energy.
  • Improves air quality.
  • Makes the structure sustainable.
  • The space becomes more fire-resistant.
  • Minimizes ambient noise.

The general installation cost for a vertical green wall by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd ranges between $200 per square meter and $1200 per square meter, depending on the design, the kind of plants used and the installation process.

About the company:

One of the oldest nurseries in Singapore, Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd has 50 years of experience in the industry. Started out humbly as a flower shop, Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd have evolved into a full-fledged landscape design and installation specialist.

Contact Details

Telephone: 65 6763 7000

Fax: 65 6892 2700

WhatsApp: +65 8838 3479

Email: buzz@prince.com.sg

Address: 53 Sungei Tengah Road, Singapore 698998

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Overall, vertical gardens reduce ambient noise, improve building sustainability, and offer flexible, aesthetically pleasing design for diverse environments.

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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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