Faade greening:

a case study of plant performance from Melbourne, Australia

J. Rayner, K. Raynor, N. Williams and P. May Department of Resource Management and Geography

Faade greening
Self-clinging climbers Twining and tendril climbers

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, Weimar, Germany

Wisteria sinensis, Stuttgart, Germany

Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Erfurt, Germany

Council House 2 (CH2)

City of Melbourne HQ 10 storey building Opened August, 2006 Six Green Star rating (Green Building Council) Energy efficient features and sustainability principles embedded in design and construction Interior and exterior plantings form critical design and function roles
Source: The Age, May 6, 2006

Council House 2 (CH2)

Exterior plantings

Roof Garden

Amenity space Semi-extensive modular planting East Core Roof Vertical planters on external balconies Northern face of building

Building Roof

Faade greening

Source: City of Melbourne

CH2 green roofs

CH2 faade greening

Balcony-based planters
90 planters (levels 1 to 9) 10 planters per level 2 per balcony 2 plants per planter (some 1 plant only)

Climbing trellis frames

CH2 Roof Garden Amenity space for staff CH2 East Core Roof Modular, semi-extensive

June, 2006

Above planters 1m x 2m X-tend mesh 150 mm aperture

Planters
Planters
Dimensions 0.3 m x 0.97 m x 0.89 m Volume = ~260 litres

Planters
Planter construction details

Substrate

Roof garden mix 50% sand, 40% foam flakes, 10% compost

Irrigation
Small trial planting, 2005

Capillary irrigation via float valve at base Foam-based wick provides water movement into mix

Plant selection
Plant selection project undertaken in 2003

Plant selection
Analysis included
Research and observation Plant selection matrix

Key selection criteria developed:

Screening values Suitable climbing habit

Final recommendations (10 taxa):

Suitable growth rate and vigour (maintenance implications)

Longevity, rejuvenation capacity? Tolerate light intensities (low at the base, high at top of building!) Aesthetics (esp. flowering materials) Interpretation potential

Akebia quinata Aphanopetalum resinosum Cissus antarctica Clematis aristata (lower levels only) Distictus buccinatoria Kennedia rubicunda Macfadyena unguis-cati Pandorea pandorana Tecomaria capensis (lower levels) Trachelospermum jasminoides (lower levels)

Aphanopetalum resinosum
Roadside, Melbourne 2003

Two plants per planter

Installation and planting

Planters installed June 2006 Planting completed August 2006 Five plants used :
Clematis aristata Kennedia rubicunda Kennedia nigricans Macfadyena unguis-cati Pandorea pandorana Trachelospermum jasminoides

CH2 faade greening

CH2 Faade greening, February 2007

Level 1 planters, West, March 2008

Trachelospermum jasminoides

Note the lack of plants in the lower balconies, 6 months post-planting

Plant performance
Plant survival after 19 months (March 2008)
Number Number planted* living Clematis aristata Kennedia nigricans Kennedia rubicunda Pandorea pandorana Trachelospermum jasminoides TOTAL
* Plantings completed as at August 2006

Plant performance
Further results (March 2008)

CH2 North Facade, March, 2008

% survival 28.5 57.0 63.5 94 47.5 57.3

14 51 41 16 42 164

4 29 26 15 20 94

Poor cover values and growth rates recorded for many remaining plants Significant pest and nutrition problems in both Kennedia spp. (Vine Moth, Mites, Chlorosis) Lowest survival was in lower, eastern end of the building (very low light)

Plant failure much higher than the survival data (43%)

Plant performance

Plant performance
Why such high plant failure?
Irrigation system design and function

Kennedia nigricans
CH2 North Faade March, 2008

Container substrate

Excessive water pressure = float valve failure (valves = 100 pa BUT 250 kpa installed!) Poor capillary movement (due to valve failure and substrate) Poor substrate design None or inadequate specifications

Installation and establishment maintenance

Lack of specifications / contractor supervision

Plant performance
Why such high plant failure? (cont.)

Plant quality

Low lateral branching (nursery production issues) Acclimation (low light) needed for some Recommendations not followed Some unsuitable - low light, growth rate, pests Greater diversity needed

Aphanopetalum resinosum
High basal shoot density and cover

Kennedia nigricans

Plant selection

Few basal shoots, poor cover values

Nursery-grown climbing plants for use in CH2 elevated planters

Facade greening
Key learnings from CH2

Design, specifications and supervision

Horticultural input in design is crucial Specifications for substrate needed (properties & testing) Plant supply and quality remains an issue Horticultural skills and knowledge in establishment Climbing species - growth rate, environmental tolerances, management, etc. Projects as designed experiments?

We need more research