Vertical Greening Systems: A Critical Comparison of Do-It-Yourself Designs

Area of Science:

• Urban Ecology
• Horticultural Engineering
• Community Development

Background:

• Urban areas face space limitations, increasing the need for vertical greening systems (VGSs) on building façades.
• Traditional VGS installation and maintenance are expert-driven, but Do-It-Yourself (DIY) by local communities is growing.
• There is a need for accessible, low-cost VGS solutions suitable for community-scale implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore low-cost vertical greening systems (VGSs).
• To offer design suggestions and maintenance guidance for DIY VGSs.
• To encourage wider adoption of small-scale, in situ VGSs by local communities.

Main Methods:

• Conducted an exploratory review of VGS designs from scientific literature, commercial solutions, and community initiatives.
• Identified eight basic VGS design models based on DIY potential and six structural criteria.
• Interviewed seven community garden groups to critically compare the design models.
• Developed a star rating system to evaluate DIY design parameters for each VGS model.

Main Results:

• Defined eight distinct vertical greening system (VGS) design models.
• Developed a comparative star rating system evaluating five key DIY design parameters for each VGS model.
• Identified community preferences and challenges related to different VGS designs.

Conclusions:

• The developed star rating system serves as a practical tool for comparing DIY VGS options.
• This research can improve access to green technologies for communities.
• Facilitates community-led, small-scale implementation of vertical greening, enhancing urban biodiversity and well-being.