Acta Scientiarum Polonorum

Greenery on elevations, despite it’s growing popularity, still raises many doubts about the consequences of it’s
impact on the walls. Are the plants covering the façade a growing problem or a support for building through
nature? This article presents and analyzes the benefits as well as problems resulting from the combination of
architecture with nature and assesses the consequence of it’s application for the building. The considerations
refer to commonly used methods of plant integration with elevations (direct system, indirect system and Living
Walls System), which were analyzed in terms of two types of impact: physical and chemical. The review
indicated numerous benefits for the building resulting from the use of greenery including: minimized heat
loss, increased durability of the elevations or lowering heat stresses in vertical partition. Inspite of potential
problems resulting mainly from the erosive action of climbing plants growing on the walls and the risk of
moistening sheltered elements, greenery is an added value to the building.