Due to fast urban growth there is a lack of space for greenery in big cities, therefore vertical greening (VG) has a great potential. Vegetation has beneficial effect on the microclimate, improves quality of living and represents a powerful aesthetic element. The beginnings of VG date back to the appearance of the first civilizations. Initially simple wooden support elements with climbing plants were incorporated in gardens for shade and production of fruit. With the emergence of new construction techniques and materials during the industrial revolution ecological and aesthetic aspects of VG came to the front. Later developments led to the invention of green wall. It was innovative that plants were able to grow on vertical surfaces and with this the set of suitable plants has broadened. The main advantages and disadvantages among different types of modern vertical greening are presented and basic principles of VG with their design potential are defined. The criteria for plant selection are set for each type of VG and a selection of typical plants is described. Based on these findings three different VG plans were prepared for a specific location in Ljubljana, their technical specifications and plant selection were presented in detail and a comparison among the proposed VG systems was made.
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