jismart2019039: Rigorous selection criteria for a functional building integrated greenery

Abstract

The choice of the right type of vegetation to be permanently integrated into a building can greatly affect its maintenance costs, visual aspect and the quality of its living environment. This study is aimed at providing general criteria for choosing the optimal type of greenery as a shading system for each particular architectural project. Here, 80 common agricultural plant species were observed and their leaf transparency, illuminations and leaf colors were measured during a 2-month period to assess the general trends and differences in their shading, transparency and color changes in response to weather. This was combined with a theoretical study on plant physiology and ecology to define the most efficient ways of integrating plants into buildings. Important differences in shading capacity were found due to the genetic origins and due to the plants canopy shapes. Grassy plants with vertical leaves were found to provide softer and uniform shades, while the bushy plants with horizontal leaves (fruits, legumes and leaf vegetables) casted off the most intense shading. The data was organized to create a framework that can be used as a reference for a scientifically informed selection of shading vegetation for the building’s exteriors and for the indoor growing spaces.