In Frankfurt, Germany, the 27-floor EDEN tower boasts an exterior “living wall system”: 186,000 plants that cover about 20 percent of the building’s facade. Chicago-based architecture firm JAHN, which spearheaded the facade concept, collaborated with local design firm Magnus Kaminiarz & Cie on EDEN tower.
The green wall contrasts with the residential tower’s white balconies and can be seen from inside the units. “JAHN developed the vertical green features to be visible from within the apartments, framing views of the city with greenery,” Steven Cook, executive vice president, JAHN, said in a statement. “This creates a sense of well-being within the living units, instilling a feeling that one is connected to nature, despite being 75 meters off the ground.”
The Benefits of The Green Element
This green element will prove especially beneficial as more people are working from home, Cook noted. “Adding planted zones to a building’s facades that can be experienced from within the apartment gives the residents who might now spend much of their time at home a sense of being connected to the living world,” he said.
One of the biggest challenges, according to Cook, involved attaching the plants to the vertical walls’ steel substructure. The team achieved this by using an extremely strong, lightweight, and non-combustible fabric originally developed by NASA. The plants were placed into linear sacks made from this special fabric, and then the pockets were bolted to the steel substructure.
Non-combustibility also was a concern when selecting the types of plants. Certain ivy species could not be used because they contain highly flammable natural compounds. The plant selection did include a large percentage of evergreens, so the green wall won’t lose all its leaves or turn brown during the winter.
Construction on EDEN tower started in 2019 and is expected to reach completion this summer.
Owner-developer: gsp Städtebau GmbH (Frankfurt)
Design architect: JAHN (Chicago USA) and Magnus Kaminiarz & Cie (Frankfurt)
Architect of record: Jaspers-Eyers Architects (Brussels, Belgium)
MEP engineer: ventury GmbH Energieanlagen (Germany)
Structural engineer: EHS (Germany)
General contractor/construction manager: IMMOBEL (Belgium)
Facade contractor: Aluprof SA (Europe)
Related Stories
| Apr 3, 2013
5 award-winning modular buildings
The Modular Building Institute recently revealed the winners of its annual Awards of Distinction contest. There were 42 winners in all across six categories. Here are five projects that caught our eye.
| Mar 27, 2013
RSMeans cost comparisons: college labs, classrooms, residence halls, student unions
Construction market analysts from RSMeans offer construction costs per square foot for four building types across 25 metro markets.
| Mar 15, 2013
7 most endangered buildings in Chicago
The Chicago Preservation Society released its annual list of the buildings at high risk for demolition.
| Mar 14, 2013
25 cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings
Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago top EPA's list of the U.S. cities with the greatest number of Energy Star certified buildings in 2012.
Building Enclosure Systems | Mar 13, 2013
5 novel architectural applications for metal mesh screen systems
From folding façades to colorful LED displays, these fantastical projects show off the architectural possibilities of wire mesh and perforated metal panel technology.
| Mar 6, 2013
Dual towers designed by SHoP create new affordable housing in NYC
With the construction of Hunters Point South, New York City will get its first large new housing development for middle-class families in more than 30 years. Related Companies is partnering with the nonprofit Phipps Houses in the project, designed by SHoP Architects with Ismael Leyva Architects.
| Mar 6, 2013
German demonstration building features algae-powered façade
Exterior of carbon-neutral demonstration building consists of hollow glass panels containing micro-algae "farms."
| Mar 4, 2013
Gehry unveils design for Santa Monica hotel-condo tower
If all goes as planned, Frank Gehry will design the first building in his hometown in some 25 years.
| Mar 3, 2013
Hines acquires Archstone's interest in $700 million CityCenterDC project
The Washington D.C. office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced the acquisition of the ownership interest of their partner, Archstone, in the mixed-use CityCenterDC project that is currently under construction in downtown Washington, D.C.
| Mar 1, 2013
China mega developer enters U.S. market
China Vanke Co., Ltd., is making its debut in the U.S. property market with a joint venture high-rise condominium project at 201 Folsom St. in San Francisco, according to CoStar's Randyl Drummer.