Bioactive façade system symbiosis as a key for eco-beneficial building element

Abstract

The problems in today’s built environment have a strong interrelation with key factors like pollution, global warming, energy and limited natural resources. When thinking of an ideal city the management of all these factors plays an important role in sustainability. Searching a magical solution to all these problems in this dynamic structure is not realistic, but some novel approaches like using the greenery (plants and microalgae) as bioactive elements adapted throughout the urban environment especially in the form of living façades on the buildings is getting more attention with regards to their eco-friendly potential. Bioactive façades can create a positive impact on managing some important parameters like thermal comfort, energy efficiency, wastewater recycle, CO2 capture and real estate price increase in microscale focusing on a single building as well as global warming, pollution control, urban heat islands, social wealth and sustainable future in macroscale focusing on a big city. The aim of this review will be the key parameters for an efficient bioactive façade with regards to pros and cons, challenges and future. The review will cover the background of using plants as living walls or green walls and then will focus on the microalgae and photobioreactor adapted buildings.