Living facade, Copenhagen

Architects generally overlook the impact their decisions have upon biodiversity. Yet at a local and global level, design decisions, especially in the area of material choice and specification, have big ramifications for ecological health. The potential of vertical gardens is a new and expanding area of work for architects. Rather than focus upon green roofs, the building as a whole can contribute to enhancing the biodiversity of cities with associated benefits in air quality and noise levels.

The installation at the European Environment Agency offices in Kongens Nytorv, in central Copenhagen, has been designed by the architect Johanna Rossbach. It marks the UN International Year of Biodiversity, and is designed as a living facade representing a map of Europe with plants reflecting the relative ecological diversity of different regions. Hence, in northern Europe where plant species are less abundant, there are plants with hairy and greyish leaves, whilst southern Europe has colourful, luxurious plants, which indicate the relative biological richness of the Mediterranean region. Botanically, the facade flowers at different times, reflecting the seasonal plant cycle. It is shown here in mid-summer.

The plants grow in a felt pocket mounted on narrow plywood platforms supported by a steel structure hung from the existing stone facade. The Danish climate, with its warm, dry summers, means that a great deal of irrigation is needed to sustain the 5000 plants. Rather than use imported exotics (which is common elsewhere) this installation uses only indigenous species. A combination of refined steel detailing and living material makes the temporary facade noteworthy irrespective of the underlying political message. Interior daylight is protected by using silkscreen-printed, translucent textiles where existing windows occur. These allow filtered daylight to enter the building whilst maintaining the facade message.

There is growing interest amongst architects and landscape architects in living facades. All surfaces of buildings can contribute towards the greening of cities and hence wider ecological diversity.