Living wall influence on the microclimates of sheltered urban conditions: results from monitoring studies

Abstract

Green infrastructure enhancements are widely supported to address urban heat-related risks. The challenge of implementing enhancements in dense cities has necessitated the development of surface greening, with vertical living walls having gained increased prominence in recent years. This paper considered the performance of such in-situ applications to quantify the extents of their influence on the microclimates of two sheltered urban conditions. The results highlight the potency of hygrothermal modifications to be most apparent within the proximate zone, with other phenomena introducing mixing to disrupt influence distribution. Air movement data at the indoor study also highlights a dominant daytime downward flow that encourages the formation of a microscale centripetal thermal system. This flow lacks potency to cause discomfort, although has capacity to present thermal sensation and diversity to occupants. The findings therefore highlight the necessity for installation designers to take account of proximity influence, and in future designs increase building occupant access to their canopies.