Tensile Design and Construct supplies green wall facades: a type of vertical garden installed on building walls. Facades are designed to beautify, cool and shade the building.

In some cases, a facade may not have a support structure, as the plants are able to attach directly to the wall’s surface. However, for taller buildings, or where wind is a factor, a support structure is necessary for greater stability. Metal support structures offer superior strength and wind resistance compared to wood or plastic. Metal supports include steel mesh or netting, wire rope systems, wire cables and hybrid systems. The structure needs to be precisely engineered to requirements. Under-engineering can mean it fails to provide the required stability while over-engineering will add unnecessarily to the cost.

Green facades and other types of green infrastructure are growing in popularity. Parks and gardens help make towns and cities healthier and more liveable; green facades are a practical way to provide the same benefits in a built environment where space is at a premium. Green facades and walls improve building aesthetics, help reduce pollution, provide shading and cooling, and contribute towards cleaner air, greater privacy, energy efficiency and noise insulation.