2016 International Conference on Civil, Structure, Environmental Engineering (I3CSEE 2016)

The Appropriate Technology of Vertical Greening of Residential

Buildings in South China
LIN Jing1, a
1
China Academy of Building Research, Shenzhen 518000
a
164957473@[Link]

Keywords：Residential Building, Vertical Greening, Appropriate Technology

Abstract: Residential buildings closely relating to people’s life have special design requirements in
vertical greening of building elevation. The paper introduced types of vertical greening technology
on the basis of studying on the residential buildings in southern China area, and then discussed on
suitable technical of vertical greening when designed balconies, opening frameworks and outer wall
of building elevation, which was to provide reference for the feasibility of the vertical greening of
residential buildings.

Introduction
Vertical greening technology is more used in public buildings, commercial buildings and tourist
attractions and others than in residence in southern China and even in the whole of China. However,
some serious environmental problem such as the decreasing city planting area and worsening urban
heat island greatly affect citizen and ecological balance. Suitable technical of vertical greening
utilized in residence will help to improve the air quality of residential area, reduce the heat island
effect and increase the comfort of indoor environment to achieve sustainable development of
modern cities.
Vertical greening system
Vertical Greening is a form that all kinds of plants are formed vertical surface by means of clinging,
fixing, affixing and hanging on building facades or other structures [1]. Depending on the difference
between vertical green growth substrate and planting methods, Vertical greening system is divided
into four types, including climbing system, carrier system, modular system and hydroponic system.
Climbing system
With adsorption and hanging characteristics of climbers, vines are planted on the base of linear or
net structure of the building with vertical greening of climbing system. It is divided into natural
climbing system and auxiliary climbing system according to whether it contains auxiliary structures.
Auxiliary climbing system is classified into systems of cable, wire mesh and grid [2]. The cable
system is fixed rope or steel on the wall of the building in horizontal or vertical direction for
climbing plant and controlling growth orientation and morphology, which applies to vines with fast
growth and dense leave. The wire mesh system forming a plane grid on the walls of buildings is
more flexible than the cable system. The specification can be customized in advance according to
the size of various vines, which is suitable for plants of slow growth. The grid system is to
constitute a climbing frame with which vines climb along the plants by the weld metal mesh,
mosaic panel or wooden frame and other auxiliary components (Figure 1). The cable system and the
wire mesh system constitute auxiliary bracket in the plane while the grid system constitutes in the
three-dimensional structure in order to prevent destructing the building wall availably.

1
LIN Jing, （1986-）, Female, Master, Intermediate engineer, E-mail：164957473@[Link], Address: The 6 floors, Fucheng
technology Building, Gaoxin Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, P.R. China
© 2016. The authors - Published by Atlantis Press 0023
 2016 International Conference on Civil, Structure, Environmental Engineering (I3CSEE 2016)

Figure 1 Climbing system Figure 2 Carrier system

Carrier system
Carrier system is the greening formation that each plant individually planted in different containers
which substantially parallel to the ground, placed or hung on the supporting frame made of stainless
steel, reinforced concrete or other materials (Figure 2). Drip irrigation and spray irrigation system
are generally used with a water pipe with high efficiency allowing the water to flow from top to
bottom through the entire wall.
Modular system
Modular system mainly consists of three parts: the greening module, the structure system and the
irrigation system. The Figure 3 shown greening module form a green surface by fixed to the
buildings with system structure and support frame connecting planting panel and building walls. In
general, corrosion resistance and highly intensive stainless steel frame are selected to well meet the
requirements to ensure safety of plant panel and firm connection. The arrangement of irrigation
system is consistent with frame structure which is convenient to provide water or liquid fertilizer to
each unit module [3].

Figure 3 Modular system Figure 4 Hydroponic system

Hydroponic system
France Patrick Blanc firstly used approach of hydroponic system. Metal frame is erected on the
structure wall separated from the wall surface and form an air layer to well play a role in keeping
warm and sound insulation. The polyvinyl chloride board is nailed on the metal frame to form a
layer of waterproof layer which fixed two layers of felt with steel nail. The surface layers of felt are
cut and roots of the plants placed at these openings of felt, and then the plants grow in the two
layers felt. Automatic irrigation equipment above the frame fertilize regularly from top to bottom,
nutrition solution expand along felt to provide plant essential nutrients (Figure 4).
Vertical greening of residential building in south China
With hot and humid climate in southern China, suitable vertical greening fixed up on balconies,
opening frameworks and outer wall of residential building can not only improve the living
environment and microclimate of resident but also beautifies and activates the building facade. The
selection of vertical greening technology should follow the principles of applicability, economy,
ecology, aesthetics and sustainability.

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 2016 International Conference on Civil, Structure, Environmental Engineering (I3CSEE 2016)

Balcony greening
In the urbanite of the life in ferroconcrete city, the balcony is the important media residents
connecting with outside natural world. Adding vertical greening into balcony can decorate the
building's interior environment as well as giving pleasure. Layout options of residential buildings in
southern China mainly distribute in the north-south direction with the characteristics of southern
balconies with long sunshine and good ventilation. Climbing system and Carrier system are easy to
maintain and manage so as to choose for balcony vertical greening. Plants are advised to select
Shallow-rooted plants with features of heliophyte, drought and heat resistance, well-developed
horizontal root system and extensive management and some small herbaceous vines or flowers. The
following shows three types of vertical greening with low maintenance and management and better
landscape effect.

Figure 5 Balcony with carrier system Figure 6 Carrier system on opening framework
The first method is that plants wind and cling to the balcony fence, invisible anti-theft network or
erection of scaffolding form. Vines planted in containers or planters climb following veranda fence
and invisible network security and form green screen. Climbing and twining vines for the balconies
commonly used such as Ficus pumila and Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis, some vines with flowers
including Ipomoea nil, Wisteria sinensis, Ipomoea quamoclit, Rosa chinensis and so on, some vines
with ornamental fruits are chosen such as Vitis vinifera and Luffa aegyptiaca.
Another method is that plants planted in the planting groove of the balcony grow downward to
exhibit green curtain. There some vines are well applied such as Wisteria sinensis, Jasminum
mesnyi, Ipomoea nil, Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis, Rosa chinensis, Bougainvillea glabra and so
on.
The third method is to build a vertical support frame in corner or against a wall of the balcony,
and each individual plant is placed on it by maintaining level, which saves the active space of the
balcony and achieves good energy saving effect with effective architectural design. The L-shape
balcony with ladders as Figure 5 showed can produce a chimney effect that hot gas escapes indoor
and lower the temperature, meanwhile, it can reduce the energy consumption of the refrigeration
equipment in summer.
Vertical greening of the opening framework
Opening framework which comes from arcade of Lingnan architecture and generally appears in
residential buildings in southern China is an open public space of the building supported by pillars.
Setting on the bottom or between shops and residential layers, vertical greening of the opening
framework can separate different functional areas, benefit to residential air circulation avoiding
indoor humidity and provide a neighborhood contact space for the residents. In addition, as
supplement and extension of residential green, it can not only soften and divide the space but
beautify and improve the environment of the overhead layer, and then increase the level sense of the
space and interest. Channel wind is easy to form because of lacking of sunlight in opening
framework, therefore, plants are advised to choose with shade resistant and good wind resistance.
The selection of plants is different according to the different direction of opening framework. Space
towards south has the most direct light and the longest sunshine duration, shade-tolerant plant
should be chosen such as Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka', Mimosa
pudica, Agave sisalana and Ficus pumila; the space towards east or west mostly has diffusion light
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 2016 International Conference on Civil, Structure, Environmental Engineering (I3CSEE 2016)

except less direct light, relative shade tolerance plants will be chosen such as Pilea notata,
Excoecaria cochinchinensis, Rhododendron simsii and Mahonia fortunei; the space towards north
or position in the corner has little light, skiophyte such as Adiantum capillus-veneris, Nephrolepis
cordifolia, Maranta arundinacea, Alocasia odora and Monstera deliciosa; plants with shade
resistant and good wind resistance are planted towards west or north, such as Dracaena deremensis
'Virens Compacta' , Syngonium podophyllum, and Caryota maxima [4].Type of vertical greening is
different according to the space environment and functional requirements of opening framework,
the following summary two vertical green forms with low cost, good effect and long life.
One is to plant vines around the pillar of the opening framework. Planting in land as far as
possible is benefits to plant growth and maintenance and management which reduce costs. Natural
climbing and auxiliary climbing are adopt by wirerope or cable and wire mesh systems with
wirerope. Such plant like Euonymus fortunei, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Hedera nepalensis var.
sinensis and Epipremnum aureum can be well chosen.
Another from is setting up canopy frame at the top of opening framework, which extends
outdoor landscape into opening framework and creates a specific landscape atmosphere. As shown
in Figure 6, shade tolerant vines are selected such as Euonymus fortunei and Epipremnum aureum.
Vertical greening of exterior wall
Vertical greening is one of the most direct ways to green the outside wall of residential building and
it is also one of the most effective ways to improve the quality of living environment. Climate in
southern China is mainly damp and hot, indoor temperature is usually high and heat radiation is not
good influenced by west sunshine and wind direction in south and southeast. Therefore, sunshade
and heat preservation facilities setting on east-west exterior window and wall respectively should be
designed to save energy and improve the indoor environment. Wall vertical greening has a
significant effect on reducing temperature of exterior wall and indoor environment, solar radiation
intensity and improving the surrounding relative air humidity. According to the measured results
showed by company Hannor: cooling effect is obvious as using vertical greening of exterior wall.
With 38℃ of the outdoor temperature, temperature of the exterior wall painted deep gray coating
without vertical greening reaches up to 50℃, whereas there is 27℃ with vertical greening; relative
air humidity increases 10% to 20% around exterior wall with vertical greening; indoor temperature
decreases about 3-5℃ obviously. According to direction and position of the wall, the form of can be
set to following types to achieve different functions and effects.
Vertical greening on exterior wall of east-west direction
Setting vertical greening on exterior wall of east-west direction of residential building can reduce
temperature of the surface of wall and indoor environment. Residential construction in southern
China is mainly toward the north-south direction and seldom set bedroom, living room and other
main functional room with small size of the window in east-west direction. Climbing system of
vertical greening can be made by means of piecewise planting with linear or reticular structure.
Natural climbing system without auxiliary frame is not to advice to adopt with the reason of less
control of vines direction and damage for buildings. Plants with heliophyte, drought and heat
resistance should be chosen such as Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Ficus pumila and Lonicera
maackii, while Parthenocissus tricuspidata with fast growth and more branches is suitable to plant
on west wall.
In Fengjing residence of China Vanke, vines are dragged by steel cable on exterior wall, planting
groove are set every two layers to plant vines like Lonicera maackii and Quisqualis indica, which
reaches climbing height of 8m and form a good landscape effect (Figure 7). Auxiliary frame with
wire mesh system should be to adjust the size and density of grid according to plant type and effect
of landscape design.

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 2016 International Conference on Civil, Structure, Environmental Engineering (I3CSEE 2016)

Figure 7 Cable system on east-west exterior wall of buildings

Vertical greening on the wall of main entrance of buildings
Vertical greening set on the wall of main entrance of buildings can give a person a deep first
impression and intuitive visual perception, therefore it is high requirements in aesthetic character of
the vertical greening. The selection of plants should be different according to effect of landscape
design, the direction, the position and vertical greening systems.
One method is to set up steel wire for exterior wall of entrance of ground floor and plant vines in
land. Transparent glass of lobby exterior wall in entrance of first floor is usually used in order not to
affect natural illumination and sight line of indoor to outdoor. Moreover, separation distance of steel
wire cable assisting Climb and guide should not be set too close.
Another method is to add structural framework on exterior wall of residential entrance embed the
plant module in the frame. Using for high facade of residential building, it is easy to form different
patterns. The structure and plant assembled with unit element are convenient to exchange
problematic module unit, but the cost is higher than climbing system.
When design limits bearing of building facade and requires higher aesthetic character, soilless
culture can be used for vertical greening (Figure 8). In soilless culture, supporting frame with
blankets and non-woven fabric as containers is set on wall surface, nutrient solution is used as
growth medium and automatic irrigation system is equipped. Pteridophyta, epiphyte and
hemiepiphyte cultivated without soil, lithophytes and plants without roots forcing through the
interlining should be chosen such as Nephrolepis cordifolia, Asparagus cochinchinensis,
Spathiphyllum kochii, Sansevieria trifasciata, Schefflera octophylla, Dianella ensifolia,
Tradescantia spathacea, Tradescantia zebrine, Commelina purpurea, Trachelospermum
jasminoides and Epipremnum aureum. This method breaks through the limitation of pattern of
module with greater freedom of plant type and modeling, which has a better associative perception.
However, the prime cost is higher as well as maintenance and management.

Figure 8 Hydroponic systems on wall of main entrance of buildings

Conclusions
With advantage of simple technology, low cost, high survival rate and easy maintenance and
management, vertical greening of climbing system is suitable to popularized and applied in the
residential building. But it also has weakness with limited climbing height and coverage area of
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 2016 International Conference on Civil, Structure, Environmental Engineering (I3CSEE 2016)

vines, monotonous greening effect, long time to form the green wall and difficult replacement.
Therefore, segmented planting in every certain height and mixed system with more than two kinds
of vertical greening are advised such as combinations of climbing system and carrier system,
combinations of climbing system, modular system and hydroponic system, which adopts its strong
points while overcoming its weak points and rich facade landscape. Carrier system with
convenience of maintenance and management and replacement of potting is suitable for residential
balcony and windowsill. Modular system with easy installation can be arbitrarily assembled, but
need to add framework on exterior wall and from thick green wall. Hydroponic system with
frivolous module has high technology and complicated service if occurring with leakage, damage of
water barrier and other issues. The last two systems have higher cost in earlier stage and
maintenance and management than the two former, but it can be carried out on a large area of
vertical greening with superior difficulty and form the ensemble landscape. The actual project can
be based on the reasonable choice of project conditions.

Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by Young Scientific Research Fund of China Academy of
Building Research.

Reference
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[3] Junhui Fu. Preliminary studies on living wall model in Beijing. Beijing Forestry University
(2011)
[4] Yang yang. Research on design of open floor in high-rise residential building of south China.
South China University of Technology (2011)

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