Vegetation in architecture can be considered a proper design strategy that is aimed at improving not only the performances of buildings, but also the outdoor climate. Different technological solutions have been proposed over the years to cover buildings with vegetation, i.e. green roofs, green walls and green balconies. A particular typology of green wall, which has recently been gaining high consensus among designers, is the vertical greenery modular system (VGMS). The positive impact of this type of technology on the performance of buildings is related to several factors, such as the façade orientation, the use of the building, climatic conditions, the type of plants, the substrates and wall assemblies, as well as mechanical and technological issues. A multidisciplinary approach is therefore needed, and different skills have to be joined together right from the early design phase in order to optimize and balance all the aspects that are involved. In this framework, a research project has been carried out in Turin (North West Italy), with the aim of developing a novel VGMS, constituted by a modular box covered with vegetation, made up of recycled/natural and highly performing materials from the energy/environmental point of view. After the design phase, the actual performance of the VGMS was assessed, through laboratory and long-term in field monitoring, and at the same time, the technological issues, biometric parameters, and the acoustic, thermal and mechanical aspects were investigated

Greenery is recognized as strategic element for the design and the regeneration of sustainable cities and buildings. Building integrated vegetation (BIV) offers many ecological benefits and an increasing number of local authorities, urban planners and architects are aware of these. Living Wall Systems (LWSs) can be classified as a BIV. LWSs can be assumed as self-sufficient vertical gardens that are attached to the exterior or interior of a building. Their environmental properties are remarkable, for these cities encouraging architects to use them. Nevertheless technical standards dealing with design, construction and maintenance of LWSs are rarely available. The objective of the research is to stimulate the LWSs development providing a technical standard proposal with information, and specifications. It tackles some aspects that should be considered significant in a standard such as: design guidelines; maintenance procedures; requirements and indicators for assessing the expected performances. The outcome of the paper can be used a first framework to make available harmonized information to stakeholders engaged in design, off-site and on-site production, as well as in operation and repair. The standard proposal encourages innovative and responsible LWS development, with a focus on ecological requirements. The proposal standard was implemented in consistency to an Italian standard (UNI 11235:2015). The UNI 11235 contains the instructions for designing, building up, monitoring and maintaining the green roofs. Although UNI 11235 is not an international standard it is based on a robust framework that can be applied at global scale and most importantly to LWS

The transition to a circular economy shifts the focus onto reusing, renewing and recycling existing materials and products, considering waste as a resource. In this context, this article aims to describe the life cycle approach’s potential for the development of new building products from textile waste, one of the most environmentally impacting activities at a global level, both in relation to the processes that characterise the supply chain and in relation to pre- and post-consumption waste. This article outlines the research methodology adopted by the cluster “From textile waste to resource” of the Department of Architecture and Design, Politecnico di Torino, through the description of research projects carried out in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). In particular, it highlights the methodological approach adopted in a “grave to cradle” logic, in which the waste from one process becomes a new resource for another. This article highlights some open issues related to the limits and potential of the use of the life cycle approach as a “tool” to compare different options in a preliminary experimental research phase, to verify the environmental impacts of new materials and products made from recycled materials, and to compare new options with similar solutions available on the market.

In an indoor environment, greenery plays an important role for the quality of space as well as for the users' psychological well-being, comfort and health. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of installing an indoor green wall at a university campus (Politecnico di Torino, Italy), taking into account users' perception and preferences. The paper builds on a questionnaire based survey developed in order to assess: the relationship between vertical greening systems and users' sense of well-being and comfort; the best indoor location for a green wall and its influence on the environmental quality. The paper presents the questionnaire survey results and analyses the strengths and weaknesses of vertical greenery in respondents' opinion

Different guidelines drive EU countries to use greening systems – green roofs and green façades - as a sustainable strategy to maximize environmental buildings performance. While technical standards concerning green roofs are available, standards concerning green façades and particularly Living Wall Systems (LWSs) still missing. The paper deals with a research carried out in order to develop a proposal of a technical standard to be adopted as method and tool to measure the performances of green façades and LWSs according to a sustainable approach. The proposal was implemented in consistency to an Italian standard (UNI 11235:2015). The UNI 11235 contains the instructions for designing, building up, monitoring and maintaining the green roofs. Although the standard is not international some basic information may be applied at global scale and most importantly at green façades. The study was focused to setting-up a proper number of requirements to be met in: designing a LWS; defining guidelines for construction stage; monitoring the performance. Requirements and guidelines were set up according to a wide study on international references and thanks to an industrial research project where the authors were involved. Monitoring carried out on chamber tests and on-site was enabled to getting comprehensive data helpful for assessing environmental properties of LWSs and on the whole to characterizing some requirements to be used in the standard