Greenery-Covered Tall Buildings: A Review

Abstract

The greenery-covered tall building, an innovative building typology that substantially integrates vegetation into the design, promises to transform urban landscapes into more sustainable and livable spaces. This paper explores the concept of greenery-covered tall buildings. It achieves its objectives by offering an overall introduction to this building typology, mapping out novel projects to identify innovative ideas and design strategies, and reviewing the social, environmental, and economic benefits of integrating greenery into tall buildings. Examining prominent implementations distinguishes purposeful greenery integration from “afterthought” additions, providing insights for architects, developers, scholars, and the public. Additionally, the paper discusses the downsides and challenges of integrating trees and plants into tall buildings, including construction costs, maintenance considerations, and adherence to building and fire codes, and proposes remedies. This research fosters a deeper understanding of their transformative potential in creating greener, more resilient, and socially beneficial urban environments by contributing to the architectural discourse on this emerging building typology.