Bartłomiej Senkowski

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Can Exterior Green Walls Contribute to a Carbon Neutral Architecture?

Can Exterior Green Walls Contribute to a Carbon Neutral Architecture? - Featured Image
London's Largest "Living Wall" / Gary Grant. Image Courtesy of Green Roof Consultancy and Treebox

A carbon neutral building is achieved when the amount of CO2 emissions is balanced by climate-positive initiatives so that the net carbon footprint over time is zero. Considering their unmatched ability to absorb CO2, planting trees is often viewed as the best carbon offsetting solution. But as cities become denser and the amount of available horizontal space for green areas drastically reduces, architects have been forced to explore other approaches. Therefore, to address these climatic challenges and connect people to nature, exterior green walls have become a rising trend in increasingly vertical cities. Even if there is research to claim that these can positively impact the environment, many question if they can actually contribute to a carbon neutral architecture. Although the answer may be quite complex, there seems to be a consensus: green walls can be effective, but only through good design.

KS Cracovia 1906 Centennial Hall and Sports Center for the Disabled / Biuro Projektow Lewicki Łatak

KS Cracovia 1906 Centennial Hall and Sports Center for the Disabled / Biuro Projektow Lewicki Łatak - Recreation & TrainingKS Cracovia 1906 Centennial Hall and Sports Center for the Disabled / Biuro Projektow Lewicki Łatak - Recreation & TrainingKS Cracovia 1906 Centennial Hall and Sports Center for the Disabled / Biuro Projektow Lewicki Łatak - Interior Photography, Recreation & Training, FacadeKS Cracovia 1906 Centennial Hall and Sports Center for the Disabled / Biuro Projektow Lewicki Łatak - Interior Photography, Recreation & Training, FacadeKS Cracovia 1906 Centennial Hall and Sports Center for the Disabled / Biuro Projektow Lewicki Łatak - More Images+ 32

Foundation for Polish Science Headquarters / FAAB

Foundation for Polish Science Headquarters / FAAB - RenovationFoundation for Polish Science Headquarters / FAAB - Interior Photography, Renovation, FacadeFoundation for Polish Science Headquarters / FAAB - Exterior Photography, Renovation, FacadeFoundation for Polish Science Headquarters / FAAB - Exterior Photography, Renovation, Door, Facade, StairsFoundation for Polish Science Headquarters / FAAB - More Images+ 26

Re-Thinking the Future 2014 Competition Awards BIG, UN Studio, HOK, and More

Re-Thinking the Future 2014 Competition Awards BIG, UN Studio, HOK, and More - Featured Image
Honorable Mention, Public Building Built: Cineteca Nacional S. XXI / Rojkind Arquitectos. Image © Rojkind Arquitectos, photo by Paul Rivera

The winners of Re-Thinking the Future’s 2014 design competition - a competition that asked architects, designers, planners, and students from all over the world to submit “radical solutions for the present day problems” of climate change - have been announced. Requesting both built and conceptual works, the jury of 20 architects from firms such as SOM, AEDAS, and Perkins+Will evaluated the projects across a range of categories, from mixed-use and residential buildings to urban and landscape design.

See all the winners, including proposals from BIG, UN Studio, and HOK, after the break.

Re-Thinking the Future 2014 Competition Awards BIG, UN Studio, HOK, and More - Image 1 of 4Re-Thinking the Future 2014 Competition Awards BIG, UN Studio, HOK, and More - Image 2 of 4Re-Thinking the Future 2014 Competition Awards BIG, UN Studio, HOK, and More - Image 3 of 4Re-Thinking the Future 2014 Competition Awards BIG, UN Studio, HOK, and More - Image 4 of 4Re-Thinking the Future 2014 Competition Awards BIG, UN Studio, HOK, and More - More Images+ 11

Blood Center / FAAB

Blood Center / FAAB - Extension, FacadeBlood Center / FAAB - Extension, HandrailBlood Center / FAAB - Extension, HandrailBlood Center / FAAB - Extension, FacadeBlood Center / FAAB - More Images+ 21

  • Architects: FAAB
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  2771
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2013
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Promat

PGE GiEk Concern Headquarters / FAAB

PGE GiEk Concern Headquarters / FAAB - Exterior Photography, Institutional Buildings, FacadePGE GiEk Concern Headquarters / FAAB - Institutional BuildingsPGE GiEk Concern Headquarters / FAAB - Exterior Photography, Institutional Buildings, FacadePGE GiEk Concern Headquarters / FAAB - Institutional BuildingsPGE GiEk Concern Headquarters / FAAB - More Images+ 24

  • Architects: FAAB
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  8300
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2013
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  EQUITONE, HEWI, Lira Lighting, MERCOR, Murexin, +2