Towards Affordable Urban Greenery: Strategies for Cost-Effective Implementation of Living Wall Systems

The ecological transition has prompted governments to formulate guidelines and financing plans aimed at the implementation of innovative strategies, ensuring community sustainability, inclusion, and well-being. Amidst diverse proposals for urban and territorial transformation, a distinct emphasis is placed on the management of public green spaces, taking into consideration the plant communities and historical significance associated with the city. This article specifically directs attention to the installation of Living Wall Systems (LWS) and conducts an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in this technology. An examination of the national and international regulatory framework, coupled with a comparative study of substrate based LWS available in the domestic market, has revealed persisting challenges. Notably, these challenges revolve around the technology’s elevated costs and maintenance complexities. Consequently, the paper aims to propose strategies for fostering the development of cost-effective LWS. This entails engaging companies and users at various stages of the process, with the overarching goal of mitigating the identified challenges and promoting wider accessibility to this technology.