Below are the families used in practice, with what each one solves well and what it does not.

The families of living wall systems

1. Climbers on a support structure

Planting is rooted in the ground or in planters at the base of the facade and climbs a trellis, cables or mesh. It is the cheapest option and the lightest on the wall, because the ground carries the weight rather than the envelope.

In exchange, full coverage takes years, the achievable height is limited, and the palette narrows to climbing species. It does not let you design with planting; it lets planting cover.

2. Modular systems on a textile carrier

Plants grow in pockets or chambers of a multi-layer textile carrier fixed to a sub-frame anchored to the wall, with automated drip irrigation. This is the professional standard on facades and in interiors of any scale: full coverage from day one, an almost unrestricted plant palette, and the ability to design the planting pattern species by species.

It requires a calculated sub-frame, a water supply, power for the irrigation controller and maintenance access designed in from the start. It is the technology we work with: the Fytotextile® system.

3. Hydroponic systems without substrate

Roots develop on an inert carrier and all nutrition arrives dissolved in the irrigation water. These reduce weight and allow very precise control of nutrition, but dependence on the irrigation system is absolute: a prolonged failure leaves no margin, because there is no substrate holding a reserve.

4. Modular tray and pot systems

Plastic modules holding substrate, fixed to a structure. They are simple to install and to replace piece by piece, which makes them convenient on small areas. The downside: the grid of modules often stays visible through the planting, substrate volume per plant is limited, and outdoors the exposed plastic ages.

5. Free-standing systems, no building work

Where the wall cannot or should not be touched — leased premises, listed buildings, temporary fit-outs — there are systems that are not anchored at all: double-sided planted screens with an integrated tank and closed-circuit irrigation, or framed panels that work as a living canvas. All they need is good light and a power socket.

That is the category of Fytoscreen®, free-standing screens planted on both faces, and Slimgreenwall®, built into a fibreglass frame. Both run on Fytotextile® technology and need no building work.

6. Artificial walls and preserved moss

Worth naming, because they hold a large share of the market, and worth being plain about: they are not living walls, they are decorative cladding. No irrigation, no horticultural maintenance — and none of the effects that technically justify a green facade: evapotranspiration, thermal regulation, particulate capture, biodiversity. A valid answer when the brief is a green finish with no services; the wrong answer when the project is after environmental performance.

The five criteria that decide it

1. Location: indoors or outdoors, and the orientation. It governs the plant palette before anything else, and indoors it forces the question of supplementary lighting.
2. Load on the structure: always with the system water-saturated. In refurbishment this is usually the criterion that rules options out before anything else starts.
3. Available services: whether water, drainage and power reach the wall. This is what separates an anchored system from a free-standing one.
4. Maintenance access: a facade reachable only by cherry picker costs money for its entire service life. That is settled at design stage, not afterwards.
5. Service life and total cost: not the installed price, but installation plus water, replanting and maintenance across the years.

For how the chosen system is resolved on the drawing, see the green wall construction detail; for the cost side, how to budget for a living wall.

Indoors and outdoors call for different systems

Outdoors the building physics lead: wind on the sub-frame, frost resistance, penetrations through the waterproofing, and a palette that survives the actual orientation — see outdoor living walls. Indoors the problem is different: light is rarely sufficient, moisture control and drainage shape the choice, and maintenance access tends to be tighter — see indoor living walls. A system that excels on a facade can be the wrong call in a lobby, and the reverse.

Frequently asked questions

What types of living wall systems are there?

Among living systems: climbers on a support structure, modular systems on a textile carrier, hydroponic systems without substrate, modular tray or pot systems, and free-standing systems needing no building work. Separately there are artificial cladding and preserved moss, which are not living plant systems.

Which system suits a facade best?

For full coverage and control of the planting design, modular systems on a textile carrier are the standard. Where budget governs and waiting years for coverage is acceptable, climbers on a support structure are a reasonable, minimal-load alternative.

Can a living wall be installed without building work?

Yes, with free-standing systems: planted screens or framed panels with closed-circuit irrigation. They need adequate light and a power socket, and they are the usual route in leased premises or buildings where intervention is restricted.

How long does a living wall last?

Far more dependent on maintenance and access than on the system itself. A well-chosen system with controlled irrigation and a maintenance plan that is actually followed gets renewed in parts and has no expiry date; one nobody can reach degrades quickly, whichever family it belongs to.

Not sure which family fits your project? Our technical consulting team assesses the substrate wall, the available services and the expected maintenance, and proposes the system that follows from it. Tell us about your project.

La entrada Living wall systems: the main types and how to choose se publicó primero en .

Below: what a complete detail contains, how an external application differs from an internal one, and which file formats you can pull straight into your drawing set.

What a green wall detail must contain

• Supporting wall and waterproofing: the existing or new substrate and its protection. The detail must show that no fixing penetrates the waterproofing layer without a sealed interface.
• Sub-frame: the fixing system carrying the saturated self-weight of the system plus wind load, and snow load where the location calls for it. Centres, anchor type and the junction with the façade build-up belong here.
• Ventilated cavity: the air gap separating the supporting wall from the wet side of the system.
• System layer: the build-up itself — for a modular semi-hydroponic system, the textile carrier and substrate pockets; for hydroponic or tray systems, the corresponding components.
• Irrigation and drainage: distribution lines, pressure-compensating emitters, solenoid valves, the controller and the sensors (substrate moisture, pressure, temperature). Drainage belongs in the detail too: free drainage and recirculating irrigation are two different drawings.
• Planting schedule: species by orientation, solar exposure and climate zone. A plant list without orientation is not a specification.
• Maintenance access: inspection points, working platforms or demountable elements, together with the safety provisions that make maintenance possible without risk. This is the item most often missing in practice.

Loadings, fixing centres and fire performance requirements are set by the standards of the country the project is built in, so check the applicable local code rather than carrying a detail across borders unchanged.

Outdoor or indoor: where the detail changes

For outdoor living walls the building physics lead: wind load on the sub-frame, frost resistance of the components, penetrations through the waterproofing and ventilation of the cavity. Orientation drives both species selection and irrigation demand, and both belong on the drawing.

For indoor living walls the emphasis shifts to moisture control, light levels and drainage. Daylight is rarely sufficient indoors, which makes auxiliary lighting part of the design — with the electrical provision shown in the detail. Maintenance access is also tighter indoors and tends to call for demountable panels.

Fytotextile®: how our system is built up

Terapia Urbana works with Fytotextile®, a modular multi-layer system on a textile carrier. The layers, the fixing and the irrigation components are set out in the technical sheets and in the downloadable drawings, so that the detail in your project reflects the actual installation rather than a generic section.

Which file format do you need?

Each format answers a different stage and a different working environment:

• Revit (.RVT): a parametric family with the technical data already in the object. This is the green wall Revit file for BIM modelling, automatic scheduling and coordination with the other disciplines.
• DWG: the two-dimensional construction detail, dimensioned and layered. The green wall DWG is the native Autodesk format and the usual one for the drawing set.
• DXF: the same detail in an open, interoperable format. This is the green wall CAD block to use when the practice does not run Autodesk software: BricsCAD, ZWCAD, QCAD, LibreCAD, Rhino, Vectorworks and ArchiCAD all open it without losing geometry or layer structure. It is also the easiest route into Illustrator or InDesign when laying out a report.
• PDF: the technical sheet for review, approval and issue, with no CAD software required.

Download the living wall drawings and BIM model

Specification and BIM workflow

• BIM objects for Revit: three-dimensional modelling with the technical parameters carried in the object.
• DWG and DXF drawings: construction details and sections, dimensioned and layered, ready for the drawing set.
• NBS documentation: our systems are published with technical documentation on NBS, so UK specifiers can pull the system straight into their specification.
• Planting database: technical sheets per species, ordered by climate, orientation and water demand.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a green wall Revit family available?

Yes. The Fytotextile® system is published as a parametric Revit family with the technical parameters embedded, alongside the DWG and DXF details and the PDF technical sheets. All of them are on the downloads page.

What loads does the sub-frame have to carry?

The saturated self-weight of the system plus wind load, and snow load in locations where it applies. The governing values depend on the height, exposure and orientation of the façade; they are given per system in the technical sheet and fixed for your project through technical consulting.

What is the difference between free drainage and recirculating irrigation?

With free drainage, surplus water leaves the system at the base and discharges to the drainage system. With recirculation it is collected, filtered and pumped round again, which adds a collection tank, pump set and water treatment to the detail. The choice changes the drawing, the water consumption and the maintenance routine alike.

Does the detail have to show maintenance access?

Yes. Without defined access, maintenance becomes expensive or unsafe — and either way it gets deferred. The detail should show how the planting, the emitters and the controller are reached, and what safety provisions that requires.

Can the detail be adapted to my project?

Yes. The published detail is the starting point; for a specific scheme we develop it against the actual façade build-up, orientation and dimensions. Talk to our technical team to get the detail for your project.

La entrada Green wall Revit, DWG and DXF: the construction detail explained se publicó primero en .

A continuación, exploramos en detalle qué es un jardín vertical modular, sus beneficios ambientales y por qué el sistema Fytotextile se ha convertido en referencia internacional.

¿Qué es un jardín vertical modular?

Un jardín vertical modular es un sistema de enverdecimiento diseñado para instalarse en fachadas exteriores o muros interiores. A diferencia de los sistemas tradicionales, los jardines verticales Fytotextile destacan por su facilidad de instalación, flexibilidad y excelente comportamiento vegetal.

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CALCULA TU PRESUPUESTO

Estos sistemas convierten superficies inertes en áreas vivas, incrementando la presencia de vegetación en las ciudades densamente construidas. Más allá del valor estético, aportan beneficios ambientales, sociales y energéticos esenciales para construir entornos urbanos más resilientes.

Beneficios ambientales de los jardines verticales modulares

Los jardines verticales modulares ofrecen múltiples ventajas que van más allá de lo estético. Sus beneficios abarcan la mejora ambiental, la eficiencia energética y la protección de los edificios, contribuyendo a crear ciudades más saludables y sostenibles.

Mejora de la calidad del aire

Los jardines verticales funcionan como biofiltros naturales capaces de absorber contaminantes atmosféricos como CO₂, NOx y partículas en suspensión (PMs). De esta manera, contribuyen a reducir la polución y mejorar la salud urbana.

Reducción del efecto isla de calor

Uno de los beneficios más destacados es su capacidad para disminuir la radiación solar absorbida por los edificios y reducir la radiación de calor emitida al ambiente.
Estudios científicos han demostrado descensos de hasta 8–9 °C en calles rodeadas de fachadas vegetales, lo que supone un alivio significativo en ciudades con veranos extremos.

Ahorro y eficiencia energética en edificios

El jardín vertical modular Fytotextile actúa como aislante térmico adicional, reduciendo la necesidad de aire acondicionado en verano y calefacción en invierno. Esto se traduce en ahorros energéticos y económicos, además de un menor impacto ambiental.

Regulación del microclima urbano

Gracias a la evapotranspiración, los jardines verticales enfrían el aire, aumentan la humedad relativa y generan un confort ambiental superior para quienes habitan y transitan las ciudades.

Protección y durabilidad de fachadas

Además, los jardines verticales prolongan la vida útil de los materiales de construcción, ya que actúan como una barrera frente a la radiación solar, el viento y las variaciones bruscas de temperatura.

Estos beneficios no son solo teóricos: en los casos de éxito de Terapia Urbana puedes descubrir cómo diferentes edificios y ciudades ya disfrutan de los resultados de los jardines verticales modulares.

Jardín vertical modular Fytotextile: innovación en sostenibilidad

El sistema Fytotextile se ha convertido en referencia internacional gracias a su diseño innovador con paneles textiles multicapa que:

• Facilitan el riego eficiente.
• Garantizan la oxigenación de las raíces.
• Permiten un crecimiento vegetal saludable y duradero.

Su modularidad lo hace ideal tanto para pequeñas paredes interiores como para grandes fachadas urbanas, adaptándose a cualquier proyecto arquitectónico.

Fytotextile es sinónimo de innovación, eficiencia y sostenibilidad en el diseño de jardines verticales.

Los jardines verticales modulares no son una simple tendencia estética, sino una infraestructura verde clave para afrontar los desafíos ambientales de las ciudades. Al mejorar la calidad del aire, reducir el efecto isla de calor, optimizar el consumo energético y proteger las fachadas, se posicionan como una solución integral para construir urbes más habitables y resilientes.

El jardín vertical modular Fytotextile es hoy una de las alternativas más eficaces para transformar edificios y entornos urbanos en espacios más saludables y sostenibles.

¿Quieres incorporar un jardín vertical en tu próximo proyecto? Contacta con Terapia Urbana
y descubre cómo podemos ayudarte a hacerlo realidad.

Preguntas frecuentes sobre jardines verticales modulares

¿Un jardín vertical modular requiere mucho mantenimiento?

No. Los sistemas modulares como Fytotextile están diseñados con soluciones de riego y drenaje eficientes que simplifican el mantenimiento.

¿Se pueden instalar jardines verticales en interiores?

Sí. Los sistemas modulares son versátiles y permiten su instalación tanto en fachadas exteriores como en muros interiores, siempre adaptados a las condiciones de luz y ventilación.

¿Qué beneficios aporta a los propietarios de edificios?

Además de mejorar la eficiencia energética y la durabilidad de las fachadas, revaloriza los inmuebles y aporta una imagen innovadora y sostenible.

¿Son realmente efectivos para reducir el efecto isla de calor?

Sí. La evidencia científica demuestra que los jardines verticales pueden reducir la temperatura del aire urbano hasta 8–9 °C, mejorando notablemente el confort climático.

La entrada Modular Living Wall: a sustainable solution to the urban heat island effect se publicó primero en .

In this post we will try to help you to elaborate a living wall, for a correct installation. In addition, we will help you to know the key aspects to choose the most suitable vegetal wall system for your project.

Every day we collaborate with many professionals like you, doing just this. Therefore, we believe that this post where we explain how to do it step by step may be of interest to you. Shall we start?

No knowledge of living wall systems

We know firsthand that the big problem for many designers is the lack of knowledge about living wall systems.What aspects to take into account and how to compare between the different systems on the market? What are the technical requirements to contemplate previously in each project?

Learn more at what to value in a living wall system y how to do it can be a difficult task if you don’t know some basic aspects.

To assist specifiers in this task, we have recently integrated our Fytotextile® living wall system into NBS’s price generator. Fytotextile® into the NBS price generator. As a specifier, you are probably already aware of the excellent utility of this online tool for the economic study of works and projects.

NBS BUDGET CALCULATOR

CALCULATE YOUR BUDGET

From the selection of the living wall system, Cype’s price generator allows you to obtain a detailed measurement and an itemized budget.

In addition, it also provides the specifications of the work unit and a lot of technical information of interest for the project.

Let’s budget a living wall

As we said, we are going to help you to budget a living wall with our Fytotextile® system. In addition, the general approach will help you to better understand living wall systems in general.

To do this, we will first review the basic components to consider when designing a living wall. design a living wall. This way we will be clear about what we are budgeting for.

The basic composition of a landscaped façade system, in case you didn’t know, usually consists of:

1. An auxiliary structure
2. A drainage and evacuation system
3. The culture system or medium
4. The irrigation and fertigation system
5. A control system
6. Vegetation
7. The auxiliary lighting system
8. Subsequent maintenance

As this is a topic for another post, we will not go into much more detail here. It is only necessary to clarify that this same composition is the one we follow in the CYPE price generator.

Living wall budget items

The first step, when entering the price generator, is to click on the section F Facades and partitionsand then FJ Vertical landscaping.

Within this section, 4 sub-sections are displayed, to select according to indoor or outdoor installation. Basically the characteristics of the budget obtained will be similar, but in indoor systems the complete unit will require to consider, in addition, the auxiliary lighting item.

FJE/FJI Supporting substructure and vegetation, for outdoor/indoor use:

In this subsection we have two items, “living walling with semi-hydroponic cultivation with the Terapia Urbana system”, and “periodic supervision of living walling”. By supervision we refer to the “subsequent maintenance” of the system, which is a unit that must be incorporated from the budget to ensure the initial development of the living wall.

– vertical landscaping with semi-hydroponic cultivation using the Terapia Urbana system.

We simply define the landscaping area by clicking on the area range where the project to be carried out is located. Once the item is obtained, the total amount will be corrected by defining the exact area.

It is not possible to edit the supporting substructure, nor the growing medium, only the number of plants per m². and the estimated supply cost. The Fytotextile system has a maximum capacity of 49 pc/m². .

The irrigation system and automation

FJG Irrigation

Within this subchapter are the units “Vertical Landscaping Irrigation and Evacuation” and “Vertical Landscaping Irrigation Automation“. The former defines the type of irrigation system, the latter the control system.

-Irrigation and Evacuation of vertical landscaping

We will start by selecting the location of the exterior or interior system, and defining the range of surface area to be budgeted in the project.

Depending on these surface ranges, the generator will give us the option to choose between one irrigation system or another.

• From 0 to 45 m2By default, select the “no fertilization” system, which is the way in which the irrigation system is associated with a lost solution.
• From 45 to 120 m2allows us to choose irrigation with fertilization (lost solution irrigation system, where a fertigation system is included) or without fertilization, which is the generator’s name for the closed-loop irrigation system.
• From 120 m2 the generator only allows to opt for closed-loop irrigation, or as the generated one mentions “without fertilization”. This, as we say, does not refer to no fertilization, but to a need for programming the price generator.

In the lower tabs, the program breaks down the rest of the components considered in each case, without the possibility of editing. It will only be possible to edit the pipe diameters, but we recommend you not to modify it.

-Automation of irrigation of vertical landscaping

As in the previous unit, we start by selecting the location of the outdoor or indoor system and defining the area to be budgeted.

Depending on these surface ranges, the generator will give us the option to choose between one control system or another.

• From 0 to 25 m2the default system selected is basic control.
• From 25-45 m2 allows you to choose between basic or advanced, and from 45 m2 by default selects advanced control system.

The lower tabs provide detailed information about the rest of the components of the chosen control system, and do not allow editing.

The irrigation collection gutter at the base

FJR Auctions

This last subchapter has only one item, for “Gutter for vertical landscaping“. And it will only be necessary to choose the type of indoor/outdoor location and indicate the surface range of the project under study.

The subsequent maintenance of the garden

FJS Supervisory work

-periodic supervision unit of vertical landscaping

From the project surface to be budgeted (<150 m2) the generator already offers the appropriate type of irrigation system. For other surfaces, the description of the generator is still valid, but you can contact us to clarify everything you need.

Within this tab, it is possible to designate the location of the living wall, choosing between indoors or outdoors.

With this, we will have completely characterized, and with a level of technical specification suitable for budgeting in project, the living wall installation that we are designing.

Need more help? Contact us!

Our team is at your disposal to answer all your questions. Please contact us if you need to define correctly your living wall system most suitable for your case.

Did we leave anything out? Did you miss any other question or section? please contact us and we will be happy to help you and we will be happy to help you and take your comments into account for a future post.

What problems do you encounter when designing and budgeting a living wall correctly? We encourage you to leave us your doubts and questions in the comments of this post.

La entrada How to budget for a living wall in your project se publicó primero en .

Although this anniversary has not been officially proclaimed by the United Nations (UN), it is important to highlight that this organization supports the initiative to promote actions aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. In fact, the International Day against Climate Change is closely aligned with one of the most significant Sustainable Development Goals, number 13: Climate Action.

It is a time when we must pause and consider the magnitude of the problems we face: ever-increasing temperatures, extreme weather events, the accelerated loss of biodiversity and the threat to the sustainability of our ecosystems.

Recent CSIC studies warn that climate change “amplifies half of the pathogenic diseases” such as colds, influenza, Covid-19, Ebola, etc., which has a major impact on human health.

A day, then, that reminds us that we cannot afford to be passive spectators of this crisis.

How urban green infrastructure can help to curb this problem

In the midst of these environmental concerns, it is necessary to restore the city-nature balance. Through urban naturation we are able to recover the space that nature has lost. The incorporation of elements such as living walls, landscaped roofs or green corridors generate a strong connection between urban spaces and nature.

In this context, living walls emerge as a contribution of hope and a way to “fight” with actions against climate change.

They are much more than a decorative element in our cities and buildings; they are a tangible manifestation of our commitment to sustainability.

A change in air quality

Air quality is an issue that affects urban areas around the world. Air pollution represents a serious risk to human health. Living walls, through the absorption of particulate matter and the production of oxygen, contribute to the significant improvement of air quality. 

Carbon footprint reduction

Reducing carbon emissions is a global priority, and living walls play a key role in achieving this goal. By absorbing carbon dioxide, they contribute directly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This action is essential to mitigate the effects of climate change and move towards achieving sustainability goals.

An example of this contribution is the project to install the largest living wall in Europe on a stretch of the M30 in Madrid.

This large-scale project involved 3,250 square meters of surface area, covering the concrete walls. with 23 highly durable plant species and with a remarkable capacity to absorb pollutants.

This initiative in the city is an important step forward in environmental terms.

The project contributes to dampen the heat island effect while reducing emissions from road traffic and minimizing noise pollution.

La entrada International Day against Climate Change, a day for reflection se publicó primero en .