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Last but not least, they are pleasant to look at – finding yourself in<br />
front of a professionally designed Green Wall, you will discover yourself<br />
standing in front of it for quite a while. It’s something to look<br />
at just as much as it is something to look into for anyone seeking to<br />
bring back a sense of nature – in a cultured form – to the often clinical<br />
walls of modern architecture while contributing to the green conscience.<br />
Cities provide ample vertical space to fill with these oases.<br />
Complex Growing Ground<br />
Technically speaking, a Green Wall is no more than a modular<br />
puzzle: synthetic plates mounted on sturdy scaffolding affixed to<br />
the building wall form the foundation. They are covered with multiple<br />
layers of a geotextile – felt – which are drawn around countless<br />
anchor bolts. Two felt layers hide the irrigation system – a watering<br />
line spanning across the Wall top – and the sandwich of felt plies<br />
is secured with a mesh trellis. The various plants arrive potted; the<br />
roots have to be rinsed from the soil before they are placed into individual<br />
sacks along with gel-filled hydrobeads and then – in a predesigned<br />
layout – into single pockets horizontally cut into their new<br />
textile ground. Four to five times a day for about ten minutes, the<br />
irrigation loop will sprinkle and moisten the Wall. The pump and<br />
drainage system are fitted into the ground, while the electronic heart<br />
of it all, the control unit, is positioned inside the respective building.<br />
A stainless steel frame finally encases the structure.<br />
It sounds straight-forward – and is fraught with intricacies. After<br />
seven years of living in China however, Peter Küsters is practiced<br />
in thinking around the corner to gradually weed out the difficulties<br />
with a combination of vision, expertise, research and precision.<br />
Where technically possible, he uses recycled materials, diligently<br />
seeking out primarily German suppliers who are able to match his<br />
environmental standards with his durability and safety requirements<br />
– his Green Walls are made to last and stay in place. Some components<br />
are custom-manufactured.<br />
Farming on Innovation<br />
Green Wall maintenance is a different matter, so further efforts go into<br />
exploring how to fool-proof and simplify its mechanical processes for<br />
the customer. While in South China, you won’t have to ask a plant<br />
twice to sprout in the subtropical climate, the more reserved Beijing<br />
plant might assert additional warmth. This winter, the Greenlink<br />
team will pick up where last winter’s research paused on environmentally<br />
friendly solutions to this issue, as well.<br />
On a parcel of land out in Shunyi which is lovingly nicknamed “The<br />
Farm”, his partner Carey Ma is always working on brewing up and<br />
enhancing the secret alchemy that is paramount to any flourishing<br />
Green Wall: plants that grow on felt require their own, special food<br />
menu. The hydroponics expert composed the nutrient solution that is<br />
infused in the irrigation water and nourishes the living green tapestry.<br />
Besides geographical and seasonal considerations in the species selection<br />
for a Green Wall, the sky’s the limit…well, almost. “You can<br />
virtually grow anything vertically – even tomatoes or your herbal<br />
garden…however, trees are not recommended due to statics safety<br />
reasons”, Küsters points out with a wink.<br />
“A Green Wall is by far more intriguing than a Green Roof”, he details<br />
his personal fascination with the concept, “anyone can enjoy its<br />
extraordinary properties – a Green Roof with its restricted access,<br />
passersby might only coincidentally discover by a single plant or<br />
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branch that happens to lurk forth from the rooftop edge from below.<br />
Green Roof construction is well-established back in Europe; I absolutely<br />
enjoy being one of the small business pioneers on this new<br />
and largely uncharted green territory.”<br />
Maybe we were able to plant a seed of inspiration in your mind,<br />
too: the next time you ponder going green with your corporation,<br />
company or institution, consider growing a Wall over your carbon<br />
footprint – for that, it is always the right season. JNS<br />
Solar control units ensure that heat from<br />
solar collectors is utilised as effectively<br />
as possible for either heating domestic<br />
hot water or swimming pool water or<br />
for central heating backup. Save energy,<br />
reduce heating costs!<br />
©Patric Blanc<br />
Viessmann Heating Technology Beijing Co., Ltd.<br />
Tel: (86 10) 8049 0888<br />
Fax: (86 10) 8049 6336<br />
www.viessmann.cn<br />
info@viessmann.cn<br />
2009/2010 December - January 69<br />
节能小贴士_8P.indd 7 2009-7-2 10:58:13
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