In an effort to combat the effects of climate change, €500,000 will be distributed by the King Baudouin Foundation to support 11 projects to green the public space by creating so-called "vertical gardens" on the facades of public buildings throughout Belgium.
Based on strict criteria, 28 projects were submitted for greening the outer walls of hospitals, town halls, libraries, cultural centres, sports facilities, swimming pools, museums, theatres, libraries and community centres – of which 11 have now been selected.
Two of the selected projects are in the Brussels-Capital Region: the CHU Saint-Pierre hospital in Brussels City and MUR (Milieu Urban Rafraîchissant) in the municipality of Forest. The St Pierre hospital hopes to reduce its environmental footprint and make the hospital more ecological by using climbing plants on its facade.
In Forest, the municipality is looking to create an "island of freshness" in the heart of the densely built-up 'Bas Forest' neighbourhood with a planted 140m² wall in the interior of the block. This area houses a communal vegetable garden and is bordered by a municipal nursery on the one side and a future social housing building on the other.
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Another project will be funded in the city of Liège, which has a whole climate plan ready and will create a green wall on the south façade of the Liège police headquarters. "This building was an obvious choice for vegetation as it is located in one of the most deprived areas of the city," the King Baudouin Foundation stated in a press release.
"The overall renovation of the building includes the climatic adaptation of this heat island. In a first phase, the roof was addressed in terms of insulation and vegetation. In the next phase, the renovation of the car park, including vegetation and water management related to the green wall, is next."
Why green facades?
Green facades – also called "vertical gardens" – offer all kinds of benefits in densely built-up neighbourhoods: besides being pleasant and nice to look at for residents and visitors, they also improve air quality, reduce noise, help regulate the climate and capture rainwater.
They also help insulate buildings from excessive heat in summer and can extend the life of walls by protecting them from weather and pollution. Ecologically, green facades promote biodiversity by providing shelter and food for a wide range of insects and birds.
In terms of architecture, they can also enhance the appearance of certain features on buildings and provide an asset for the neighbourhood.
