There is a clear trend in architecture, design and construction towards the incorporation of plant elements both on façades and roofs and inside buildings. This trend towards the use of landscaped spaces, beyond their aesthetic value, is mainly justified by the environmental benefits, the insulation they provide and their thermal inertia, solar protection, as well as their pollution-reducing effect and the hygrothermal comfort they provide. In addition to this, there is a growing sensitivity among the urban population towards the consumption of fresh local products and the advance of hydroponic cultivation systems.
Implementing this trend in architectural projects means applying new paradigms to design criteria. These paradigms include the use of open spaces, the use of natural materials, the use of natural lighting with the incorporation of large skylights or glass façades, the possibility of designing walls with vertical crops and green roofs, as well as channels and small waterfalls.
By Miquel Solís, Senior Architect in the Architecture Department of Amusement Logic
