Last updated: October 2021
The winners of Smogathon 2016 suggested building a large green wall in the centre of Kraków. Based on the modern technologies the artificially placed wall made of metal and moss would clean local air, lower the temperature, retain water, increase biodiversity and serve as a decoration for the city centre [1,2]. The project was not completed due to lack of scientific data on its effectiveness and the weak price and outcomes balance; the city is still searching for more economical and practical solutions [6].
Green wall
Source: https://lovekrakow.pl/aktualnosci/zdjecie/19096#photo
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green walls or facades
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
The overarching goal of the intervention is to decrease levels of smog in the very polluted centre of Kraków [1,6].
Implementation activities
Planned: Building a green mossy wall of the following dimensions: 2.2 m (thickness), 4 m (height) and 3 m (width), with a total green area 16.82 m2 [1,2].
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
Main beneficiaries
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The municipality planned to purchase the product from the Berlin-based Green City Solutions company [3].
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Green City Board of Cracow outlined its general plans for 2017 to increase the amount of greenery in the city. Building green wall from moss fits into those plans.(2))
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of expertise
- Other
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Salamon, P., (2017), 'Green wall that will clean and cool the air will be installed in the centre of Cracow' ('Zielona ściana oczyści i schłodzi powietrze. Ma stanąć w centrum Krakowa'), Source link, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
2. Online article, (2017) 'The winner of Smogathon 2016 The City Tree - plans of installation in Cracow' ('Zwycięzca Smogathon 2016 The CityTree – plany instalacji w Krakowie'), Source link, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
3. Online article, (2017) 'Cracow will fight smog with the green wall' ('Kraków będzie walczyć ze smogiem ścianą z mchu i roślinami'), Source link, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
4.Kolet-Iciek, A., (2017), "Where in Cracow will the wall of moss be erected?' ('Gdzie w Krakowie stanie ściana z mchu?'), Source link, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
5.Green City Solutions company website, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
6. Js. (2017). Kraków zrezygnuje ze ściany z mchu? Szukają skuteczniejszych metod (Kraków droppes the idea of the mossy wall? They are searching for more effective methods). Source link. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
2. Online article, (2017) 'The winner of Smogathon 2016 The City Tree - plans of installation in Cracow' ('Zwycięzca Smogathon 2016 The CityTree – plany instalacji w Krakowie'), Source link, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
3. Online article, (2017) 'Cracow will fight smog with the green wall' ('Kraków będzie walczyć ze smogiem ścianą z mchu i roślinami'), Source link, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
4.Kolet-Iciek, A., (2017), "Where in Cracow will the wall of moss be erected?' ('Gdzie w Krakowie stanie ściana z mchu?'), Source link, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
5.Green City Solutions company website, Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
6. Js. (2017). Kraków zrezygnuje ze ściany z mchu? Szukają skuteczniejszych metod (Kraków droppes the idea of the mossy wall? They are searching for more effective methods). Source link. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 24 August 2020).
Green wall
Source: https://lovekrakow.pl/aktualnosci/zdjecie/19096#photo