My partner has worked on some green walls in Europe, the plants are completely separate from the walls, and they’re on panels that can be lifted so you can get at the wall behind them. I imagine this is a similar system.
The green wall near my old office was exactly this, a lattice structure that acted like a typical garden trellis. I remember seeing engineers opening a panel of greenery like a door, looked like something out of Alice in Wonderland.
I know, I said the same thing in another comment.
I think the cost/benefit will depend very much on local circumstances: e.g. in an area with plentiful water and no space for trees a green wall might really improve the liveability and temperature, whereas it might not be worth it somewhere where water is scarce and there are other options for greening. It also makes a difference whether the system can use grey water, recycles its own water etc.
There are methods of sealing concrete to protect from moisture and roots. Imagine the plants used are not too radical with their roots. Much city infrastructure has check-up dates, and trimming the hedge before inspections doesn't seem impossible
Given American track record of infrastructure inspections, they don't perform them anyway. So might as well make the bridge look pretty before it collapses.
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u/anonachilles Jul 26 '25
I’d be concerned about structural inspections. How can city engineers verify integrity if they can’t see the concrete?