Green facade of succulent plants, at City Park Mall Constanța

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(Română) Fațadă verde din plante suculente, la City Park Mall Constanța

At City Park Mall in Constanța, we managed to create a unique reference project

The 9-meter-high green façade, covering an area of 350 m², was completed in a very short time—approximately three weeks. The project was executed in a design & build system by Odu Green Roof, including the supporting structure, plant holders, automated irrigation system, and the planting of approximately 26,000 succulent plants.

Although immediately after installation the façade was hit by heavy rains and later dried by the dry, salty sea breeze, it developed very well: the plants bloomed and increased their coverage on the façade.

Article by Ioana Mircea, Landscape Urbanist, published on Acoperismagazin.ro

Advances in technology today allow us to revolutionize traditional architecture, incorporating new materials and innovative concepts, such as solar panels, curtain walls, metal cladding (zinc, titanium), or green roofs. We build more, faster, and more efficiently, increasing the pressure on the environment and urban spaces.

The expansion of built surfaces, both horizontally and vertically, has consequences we are not always aware of. One of these is the so-called “urban heat island” phenomenon, which manifests as a microclimate in cities and their surroundings with higher temperatures than normal for their geographic location, along with increased cloudiness and atmospheric turbulence.

In addition to unavoidable urban air pollution, which contributes to this phenomenon, built surfaces that absorb solar radiation and later release it as heat play an important role. Road asphalt and metal roofs are concrete examples of this phenomenon, perceptible even without measurement devices. Even more harmful are glass curtain walls, which reflect and amplify radiation. These combined factors produce long-term effects as well as immediate, persistent discomfort for residents, especially in the warm season.

Vertical Gardens

One solution to reduce these radiant surfaces in cities is shading or covering them with vegetation—a method that is not new, previously applied through pergolas or trellises for climbing plants. Modern technology, however, allows us to achieve the benefits of this approach while controlling the final aesthetic effect and avoiding drawbacks such as damage to façade plaster from roots, or the impossibility of repairs without cutting plants. If non-evergreen species are used, the façade’s appearance in winter can sometimes be bleak.

This modern solution for greening façades is known by various descriptive names: green walls, living walls, vertical gardens. The visual impact of such elements is undeniable and can be illustrated through numerous creative examples worldwide. Depending on geographic location and climate, green façades can be composed of exotic, lush plants or low-growing, perennial, flowering, or succulent species.

Unfortunately, in Romania, such outdoor installations are rare. While indoor green walls are increasingly appreciated for space division or decoration, exterior green façades are less sought after, often due to the high investment cost without apparent immediate benefits. The true reason for their absence is the lack of concrete information about implementation and the advantages offered, as well as their status as a valid technological solution.

One major benefit, often overlooked by Romanian investors, is the mitigation of façade overheating, which directly affects urban spaces. The current mindset of developers focuses exclusively on indoor comfort, neglecting the surrounding urban space. In other words, most Romanian construction investors would consider a solution that reduces a building’s impact on urban space or improves the environment as a financial loss if it does not provide direct benefits.

Fortunately, there are profitable aspects of such a green façade. One significant advantage is thermal and acoustic insulation. A green façade acts as a protective layer year-round: in summer, it prevents overheating from solar radiation, directly affecting interior temperatures and reducing cooling energy consumption by up to 25%, depending on the covered surface.

During colder seasons, a green façade reduces building exposure to wind and cold drafts, preventing thermal bridges. Additionally, the vegetation slows down wind speed near the façade, increasing comfort in the surrounding area. Strategically placed, such façades can drastically reduce wind tunnel effects or urban vortices, especially in high-rise areas with curtain walls or wind corridors. Due to plants’ vibration-reducing properties, green façades also function as sound insulators, decreasing ambient noise by about 10–12 dB, both outside and inside the building.

These benefits reduce construction and maintenance costs, lower energy expenses, and extend building lifespan.

Other advantages include aesthetic appeal and psychological comfort provided by vertical gardens, benefiting both building users and surrounding residents or passersby. A fully green façade offers an impressive visual impact, increasing property value and enhancing the urban architectural landscape. Through water retention, plants also reduce the impact of rainfall on often inefficient drainage systems.

Finally, vertical gardens can increase urban green space without sacrificing land needed for development. Even if these surfaces are not accessible like traditional parks, vegetation improves the surrounding urban space and air quality by absorbing CO₂, retaining dust, fine particles, bacteria, allergens, and generating oxygen.

Case Study: Constanța

Although there are few such green façades in Romania, we can proudly present an exceptional installation covering approximately 350 m², ranking first in Eastern Europe by size. Completed in May 2016, it covers two adjacent façades of the City Park Mall. Due to the local climate—high humidity, hot summers, and salty sea air—succulent plants were chosen. They tolerate extreme solar radiation, exposure to salty, humid air, and are evergreen, maintaining their shape and appearance year-round. The vegetation choice, combined with the total covered area, makes this installation remarkable. The project was executed by Odu Green Roof, with expertise in both traditional and innovative landscaping, including green roofs, ecological ponds, and rooftop gardens.

The façade was completed in a record time of about three weeks, at a height of 3–10 meters—a notable achievement. The modular system uses 50 × 50 cm PVC modules, each with 16 planting slots (64 plants/m²), mounted on a metal structure. The total system weight, including soil and plants, is around 80 kg/m², requiring no special fastening, and can be installed on virtually any building.

The metal structure distances the vertical garden from the façade, preventing direct contact, water infiltration, or pests, while also creating an insulating air layer for ventilation.

Plant maintenance is handled by an automated irrigation system concealed behind the modules. The drip system provides each of the 26,000 plants with water and nutrients. The only drawback is the relatively slow growth of the species, limited by the small allocated space. Nevertheless, the green–brown–red mosaic is spectacular from the start and increasingly conceals the modules, enhancing aesthetic impact.