The concept of green walls is fast catching on in Dubai, UAE, thanks to its aesthetic appeal, its ability to improve energy efficiency and also act as a powerful noise and pollution filter, said industry experts.

The universal importance of green walls is evidenced by the fact that living walls are now being seen in major cities around the world, such as Berlin (Germany), Paris (France), Istanbul (Turkey), besides Dubai.

Examples of verdant walls include the striking living wall of plants at the Musée du Quai Branly, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, the experts said.

These green walls also act as potent climate control agents, they stated.

According to experts, there has been a global shift towards sustainability, especially in terms of building urban spaces.

Sustainable economic development is also the focus of government plans everywhere, especially in the UAE. As a result, finding ways to ensure urban landscaping development is carried out using the newest technology in smart landscaping globally is becoming an area of major focus for developers, architects and planners in the regionm, they added.

Leading global players in the building and construction companies will discuss ways to boost green walls at the upcoming Annual Middle East Smart Landscape Summit 2015 to be held in Dubai.

They will also put spotlight on this exciting new emerging technology that integrates vegetation with building facades during the session titled ‘Green Living Walls – Turning Dense Urban Areas from Grey to Green.’

The event is being hosted by global conference organiser, Expotrade, from April 28 to 29 at Sofitel The Palm Resort and Spa.

According to experts, one of the most interesting technologies that have been developed with sustainable economic development in mind is the concept of green walls or living walls.

"Living walls or vertical surfaces covered with vegetation fulfil the twin aims of any landscaper, namely beautification and environment-friendliness," they stated.

Green facades, they said, can be developed in any urban habitat, with a variety of uses ranging from demarcation and beautification, to fencing and screening.

But what is arguably the most important function of green walls is its role as an effective element of sustainable landscaping, the experts added.

According to them, the concept of green walls seems to be catching on in Dubai as well. Mixed media arts and cultural centre, The Pavilion has a 10-m-long vertical interior garden that is a marvel of design, featuring around 2,500 plants.

Leisure properties such as hotels are also an obvious choice, they noted.

Dubai’s Novotel Hotel’s green wall, taking up 1,200 sq m and containing approximately 27,000 plants is a prime example, as is the 30-m-long green wall at the Hakkasan Terrace restaurant at the Emirates Towers in Dubai, they added.-TradeArabia News Service