GFRC vs.

Green Wall
Systems
Which works more efficiently?

Mujun, Jin, Walkiria

 Definition
GFRC Green Wall Systems
The term is abbreviated from the term Green Fiber This system is a system which serves in many
Reinforced Concrete. This is basically a concrete panel purposes. It acts as a protective barrier from solar
slightly different from its original Precast concrete panel. In radiation and heat penetration. It is quite similar to
that this concrete system is lightweight and uses less the Terra Cotta system in that it naturally absorbs
materials and takes less and looks more efficient. and filters out rain water that is designed to collect.
 Construction Time & Cost
GFRC Green Wall System

 Often cost by square foot on an “FOB  The value of a building with a Green wall system is very
valuable it adds 15% to 20 % to a buildings value.
Job Site” (materials only) or
The cost of a vertical garden per say is $65 per square
“Installed” cost basis (Materials and 
foot. Very expensive compared to GFRC
Installation).
 It’s easy to install a green wall.
 Generally depends on the number of  The process is similar to
factors, including the project size,  Protection of all floors and surfaces
the size and complexity of the
panels, and repetion of the skins.  Install frames
 Install irrigation controller and hardscape
 Also will depend on Location of site.  Install pre-planted panels
Interestingly, NYC is more expensive
than Dallas.  Install irrigation drip lines and sensors
 Test the irrigation system of the living wall construction
 An estimated material cost would be  Initiate plant maintenance
$30-$35 per square foot.
Construction Time & Cost
GFRC Green Wall System

Zaha Hadid Architects Patrick Blanc

Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Cultural
Centre
Zaha Hadid Architects designed a mixed use venue
featuring a conference hall, library, and a museum.
This project is located in Baku, Azerbaijan. This
building is famous for its curvature forms and
engineering solutions. As you can see in the images
they used concrete as the core of the building and it is
Green Fiber reinforced concrete. This building was a
response to the topography of the site and where the
project was located. The material of this project was
a challenge to work with because the architects
needed to design accordingly to seismic loads without
relying on interior columns.
“We focused, for example, on easy-to-clean
external cladding materials because of the heavy
air pollution… There are oil refineries and such
nearby, and the cladding is white. That's how glass
fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) came up, which is
dirt-repellent itself. In general, all building
systems are chosen to have high durability and a
long lifetime and low maintenance efforts.“
- Thomas Winterstetter, Werner Sobek
Rendering and Inner Finish Material
Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre
Patrick Blanc’s Green Wall/Living Wall
“Replanting the World’s Concrete Jungle, One Wall at a Time
Patrick Blanc is a French botanist and designer who
invented the concept of a vertical garden. He calls a
green wall a “hymn to biodiversity”

He designed the green wall in Before

L’Oasis d’Aboukir on the side a
residential building in Paris.
The design has a wave pattern
to it that relates to how the
street moves at the corner
intersection of streets in Paris.

After
L’Oasis d’Aboukir
Design and Installation Process
Vertical gardens are built typically on solid
metal, PVC and non-biodegradable felt frame
that prevents damage to walls and allows plants
to grow on the wall without the need of soil.
They have built in water systems and require
limited maintenance.
Environmental Implications &
Sustainability Green Wall System
 Reduction of thermal loading to buildings, Low
heating and cooling cost for the building.
 Reduction of heat island effect
 Air purification- plants are efficient filters the
pollution of the surrounding air
 Plants are capable of cleaning indoor air of toxic
chemicals that are common on modern buildings.

GFRC
This cladding system is a sustainable assembly simply
because it includes materials taken from the soil and
there never is an effect on this cladding arrangement for
the environment. Compared to the mix of regular
reinforced concrete this concrete mix uses lightweight
and recycled materials. It is durable and the materials
last a long time. It reduces the time for replacement,
maintenance and repair. The lightweight panels use 80%
less material than precast. Reduces fuel and cost of
transportation to job site. A study was done by United
Kingdom’s DETR/Concrete Industry Alliance Partners in
Technology project compared GFRC to traditional precast
concrete and found that is a much lower environmental
impact by a factor of 60%
System Joints and Connections
GFRC

These connection details show the connection

of a GFRC panel it is connected by the bonding
pad to keep it straight while the Flex anchor
heel keeps it steady and from shifting. The
connections for this wall system is reduced to
have less structural load this makes it appear
lightweight and beautiful.
System Joints and Connections
GFRC
System Joints and Connections
GFRC
System Joint and Connections
Green Wall Systems
 System Joints and Connections
Green Wall System
 Typically, there is a vast amount of space between the building wall and the green
wall or sometimes refereed to as living wall. Those components consist of
 Supporting Framing – Vertical metal channel, tubing, Unistrut, wood framing or a material
that is similar.
 Backing Board - Durable water resistant PVC sheathing
 Drainage Mat – Impermeable, high-flow dimpled composite bonded with filter fabric layer
 Battens – Horizontal rails of PVC sheathing which hold the irrigation lines
 Drip Irrigation System – Flexible tubing with pressure-compensating, self-cleansing inline
emitters.
 Tiles – preformed plastic shell containing inorganic Grodan growing media and capillary
drainage strips.
Case Studies
GFRC Green Wall System

King Abdullah Petroleum Studies London’s Mint Hotel

King Abdullah Petroleum Studies
GFRC – Wall System
Orientation of this building was selected in this
particular way because the cells create a
constant air circulation. They used GFRC as
part of an architectural decision because it
creates a maximum protection against solar
radiation. The material doesn’t heat the
building up too much there is a comfort
temperature once GFRC is installed.
London’s Mint Hotel
Green Wall System
 London’s Mint Hotel
Green Wall System + Sustainability
 Rain Penetration and Moisture Control

GFRC
Because the GFRC skin is thin, some form of water
drainage system from behind the skin should be
incorporated in the panels. Additionally, the space
between the GFRC skin and the panel frame should
be freely ventilated to prevent the condensation
of water vapor. This is generally not a requirement
in precast concrete curtain walls. A two-way joint
sealant system may be used at panel junctions
similar to that for PC curtain walls.
Rain Penetration and Moisture Control
Green Wall System
Since new technology is used in
Green Wall System such modular
trellis systems, cables, and
netting, there is a certain
distance green wall system and
the building. The rain penetration
of Green Wall System really
depends on the base wall system,
such as concrete wall.
 Hydronic System
It is a hydroponic system fed by nutrient rich
water which is re-circulated from a manifold,
located at the top of the wall, and collected in
a gutter at the bottom of the fabric wall system.
Plant roots are sandwiched between two layers
of synthetic fabric that support microbes and a
dense root mass. These root microbes remove
airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
while foliage absorbs carbon monoxide and
dioxide. The plants’ natural processes produce
cool fresh air that is drawn through the system
by a fan and then distributed throughout the
building. A variation of this concept could be
applied to green façade systems as well, and
there is potential to apply a hybrid of systems
at a large scale.
 Thermal Insulation & R values
GFRC
 The R-value of GFRC system really depends
on the thickness of the wall. The thicker
wall the more R-value will have.
 Thermal conductivity of GFRC is dependent
upon composite density and moisture
content. The typical range of thermal
conductivity is 3.5 to 7.0 BTU/in./hr./ft.2/
deg F.

GFRC SPRAY UP PROCESS

 Thermal Insulation & R values
Green Wall System
Although there is no R-value for Green Wall
System, vegetation cools buildings and the
surrounding area through the processes of
shading, reducing reflected heat, and
evapotranspiration.
 Promotes natural cooling processes
 Reduces ambient temperature in urban
areas
 Breaks vertical air flow which then cools the
air as it slows down
 Shading surfaces/people
Benefit of Green Wall System

*Urban beautification
*Health and Welness

*Branding *Improve air quality

*Building Protecion

*Temperature Regulation

*Urban wildlife
*Property Value

*sound insulation
Bibliography
 http://www.strombergarchitectural.com/materials/gfrc-leed
 http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/09/18/patrick_blanc_s_newest_vertical_garden_gr
eening_urban_walls_around_the_world.html
 http://www.ambius.com/green-walls/services/installation/index.html
 http://www.ambius.com/green-walls/index.html?gclid=CIjy3tDtm7oCFROZ4AodWiYAoQ
 http://gfrccladding.com/?&p=faq&q=400
 http://buildipedia.com/aec-pros/from-the-job-site/zaha-hadids-heydar-aliyev-cultural-centre-
turning-a-vision-into-reality
 http://xavier-architectonic.blogspot.com/
 http://www.architecturenewsplus.com/project-images/32406
 http://www.pearsonhighered.com
 www.stonewear.com