IMPLEMENTING VERTICAL GARDEN AS AN INSTRUMENT TO PROMOTE

RESPECT, CARE, AWARENESS AND CONSERVATION OF THE

ENVIRONMENT AT CANTILLANA SCHOOL

ANA MARIA PRADA JAIMES

ASPAEN GIMNASIO CANTILLANA

NOVUS-TRANS DISCIPLINAR
BUCARAMANGA
2016
IMPLEMENTING VERTICAL GARDEN AS AN INSTRUMENT TO PROMOTE
RESPECT, CARE, AWARENESS AND CONSERVATION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT AT CANTILLANA SCHOOL

ANA MARIA PRADA JAIMES

PROYECTO

ASPAEN GIMNASIO CANTILLANA

PROFESORA INGLES-FRANCES

ASPAEN GIMNASIO CANTILLANA

NOVUS INTER-TRANS DISCIPLINAR
BUCARAMANGA
2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 LIST OF TABLES

Pág

Tabla 1. Developing of Research………………………………………………………13

 LIST OF ANNEXES

Pág

Annexes1. Evidences………………………………………………………………….18
 INTRODUCTION

Our planet is suffering an environmental crisis and humans have become vulnerable
to disasters, tragedies and healthy diseases. Problems such as global warming,
pollution, overpopulation, climate change, ozone layer depletion and deforestation
are changing the human lives. All around the world, people is affected for this
consequences and our city Bucaramanga, is not an exception.

According to the CMB “Corporación Autónoma Regional para la Defensa de la

Meseta de Bucaramanga”, the air pollution is a fact of risk for all of us. They found
that some material particles present in the air we breathe could produce respiratory
symptoms such as: aggravation of the heart or lung diseases, aggravation of
cardiopulmonary diseases; apparition of diseases such as asthma and finally,
increase of the possibility of suffering a chest tightness and having breathe
difficulties. All this consequences are caused by human people, because each day
we pollute our planet throwing out waste, making noise, using our cars, wasting
water etc. That’s why we need to change our minds and begin acting for becoming
a sustainable society.

To achieve this purpose, the education is an indispensable vehicle for improving the
possibilities for a sustainable society and for enhancing sustainable lifestyle.
Because of that, the main objective of this project is to use the vertical gardens to
promote caring, appreciation and respect for the environmental. Since vertical
gardens have double purpose; in one hand, this reduce urban heat island, cleans
the air of pollutants and dust, and it is affirmed by researchers that it could help
children with AHDA; by the other hand, the garden provides a peaceful spot to relax
and reflect. It is also a place of beauty that students and school can be proud of and
share with others. The objective is to supply Cantillana Students with an ecological
example they can follow respecting the environmental.

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 1. RESEARCH PROBLEM

1.1 DEFINITION OF PROBLEM

The Ministry of National Education of Colombia, suggested that environmental

education should be included into the institutional Curriculum, through the use of
PRAEs, “Proyectos Ambientales Escolares”, which objective is to make people
aware of the crisis we are facing, finding out problems and looking for solutions for
them. Regarding to that, Cantillana School, has been developing a PRAE in the
science area, the main objective of this project is to involve students in a school
garden, teaching them concepts and learning about environmental care. This
process begins at the beginning of the year and finishes at the end of the year.

Consequently, this research aims to teach Cantillana’s students how to do vertical

gardens. However, this project will carried out with primary school students. Another
problem we found is that even Cantillana School is surrounded by nature; students
don’t know the value of it. By the way, students don’t know the concept of vertical
garden and they don’t know that it can be useful in those places where there is not
space for having gardens.

2. JUSTIFICATION

Learning about sustainability in education focuses on participation, communication,

problem-solving and critical thinking. As already mentioned, this article therefore
focuses on using vertical garden as a tool to involve students into the environmental
practices.

By the way, students can commit some acts that could contribute to increase the
environmental problem, because of that, it is necessary to create pedagogical
strategies and spaces in which students have a contact with nature. The students
can learn while they are fomenting responsible values, respect, protection,
conservation and proper use of our natural resources. The change of student’s
attitude is going to be reflected in their actions. The student’s collaboration and
participation is going to contribute to enhance our environment and our student’s
lifestyles.

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 3. RESEARCH QUESTION

How do the vertical gardens promote appreciation and respect for the environment
in Cantillana School?

4. OBJECTIFS

4.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE

 Implementing vertical garden as an instrument to promote respect, care,

awareness and conservation of the environment at Cantillana School.

4.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

 To construct the vertical garden using recycling materials.

 To motivate students to develop vertical garden at home, teaching them how

to do it.

 Promote awareness and respect for nature inside the institution.

5. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

5.1 VERTICAL GARDENS1:

According to Ivan Gourdet G, Vertical gardens are plant walls that can be used in
different buildings both indoors and outdoors and emerge as a new concept that
revives walls maximizing the use of the scarcest commodity in the city.

This technique integrates vegetation and architecture in a natural way, delivering

colors and shapes to the urban environment, quality of life to people, environmental
benefits, everything in a sustainable, innovative and eco-friendly way. Thus facades
of public and private buildings, apartments, home room, shopping malls, casinos,

1
G, I. G. (2011, December 9). QUE ES UN JARDIN VERTICAL. Retrieved from
http://gfgardenflower.blogspot.com.co/2011/12/que-es-un-jardin-vertical.html

8
colleges, universities, hotels, restaurants are favorable for the installation of a
Vertical Garden.

Some countries such as Germany and France have valued very highly the design
and creation of vertical gardens as they not only provide an aesthetic value, but they
also add many environmental benefits.

5.2 VERTICAL GARDEN BENEFITS2:

5.2.1 Environmental Benefits:

 Reduce heat island effect of large cities. (Professor Hiroyuki Yamada).

 Reduce flooding as they retain much rainwater in storms.

 They enable unused urban spaces.

 Reduce up to 5 degrees the temperature inside a building in summer and

keep warm in winter, saving up to 500 € / m2 per year. (Akira Hoyano,
professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology).

5.2.2 Health benefits:

 1 plant cover generates oxygen required by a person in the whole year.

(Darlington, 2001).

 1 plant cover traps 130 grams of powder per year. (Darlington, 2001).

 A 4-storey building (60) with a carrier system filters frontage of this year 40
tons of harmful gases. (Wolverton et al. 1989).

 A 4-storey building with a carrier frontage of this system is able to catch and
process 15 kg of heavy metals. (Darlington, 2001).

2
A. A. (2014, March 3). La interesante historia de jardines verticales. Retrieved from
https://vivoemprendiendo.com/2014/03/03/la-interesante-historia-de-jardinesverticales-com-mx-y-su-fundador-abdiel-aguirre/

9
  Improves performance and reduces discomfort of people with vegetation in
their workplace. (Lohr et al .. 1996; Bringslimark, et al., 2007).

 The vegetable insulation up to 10 decibels reduces noise pollution. (Akira

Hoyano, professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology).

5.2.3 Kind of vertical gardens3:

A. Vertical Garden Eco Bin: What is used here are ceramic bottle racks, which
have been finished in a terracotta color, white and counted equally with
lacquered in color that everyone likes more.
B. Vertical Garden Leaf Box: In this case, this type of vertical garden, has a
modular construction system which are custom-made and panels that have
been made in waterproof material and are placed Sphagnum moss. And best
of all, thanks to the panels, can have UV protection and also have a high
resistance to fungi and bacteria that can be presented in the development
environment of the plant.
C. Vertical garden in F + P: Here we have a metal mesh. It is the fastest
assembly, lighter weight and easy to make maintenance.
D. Vertical Garden Nébula: This system is structured by air plants and only
needs the properties offered by the air. As the Tillandsias plants. So there will
be no need to water or contribute nutrients.

5.2.4 Background4:

According to Juan Navarro Portilla, today plant facades techniques are really
heritage architecture of yesteryear. This architecture in their

Various forms and climates, intuitively has developed concepts being scientifically
validated, using building materials and locally available construction methods
adapted such form that combine comfort and beauty, with social and physical
functioning.

3
D. O. (2014, November 30). Tipos de jardínes verticales. Retrieved from http://www.jardinesverticalesweb.com/tipos-y-
disenos/
4

10
The use of vegetation can be found primarily in architecture of northern Europe
and the British Isles. The use of vegetation such as grass or peat, in these areas,
was the reply to adverse weather conditions.

Ilustration 1 Turf house in Bakkagerdi, notrh east

Iceland. This is a traditional style of house building in
Iceland. Offering superb insulation from the harsh
environmet.

These plant materials offer superior insulation, facing the buildings constructions
made carried out exclusively from wood or stone in addition to the relative difficulty
in obtaining of these latter materials in sufficient quantities.

Moving from the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon (605 a.d.C.) to the so-called
organic architecture, vegetation has designers served not only to accentuate or
lighten the architecture, but also to create it and transform it. Already existed a history
of vertical gardens in India and Pre-Columbian architecture in the form of terraces.

11
 Ilustration 2 Hanging Gardens of Babylon

5
“Inside of organic architecture early twentieth century. The vegetation still playing
a major role. This style is an architectural movement of functionalism and rationalism
derived mainly promoted by Scandinavian architects in the early decades of the
twentieth century, and by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The term
"organic architecture" was first coined by the American architect”.

6
“According to the previews studies of the “University of Western Australia”, they
investigated the potential to build upon the dynamic relationship between the built
environment and nature that has existed since earliest civilization. The result of this
project was the reduction in mean radiant temperature is explained by the vertical
greenery acting as added insulation. Besides, the university of “politecnica de
Valencia” the conclusion of investigation was to give multiples possibilities of design
to beautify a building or wall. it promote the save of energy, the improve of the
environment and decrease greenhouse effect in the cities. The object of the
investigation was to bring a new sustainable strategy related to the use of vegetation
in the buildings. “

5
Portilla, J. N. (2013, September). LOS JARDINES VERTICALES EN LA EDIFICACIÓN. Retrieved from
https://riunet.upv.es/bitstream/handle/10251/33814/TFM JUAN NAVARRO.pdf

6
T. B., & S. F. (n.d.). Vertical Gardens. Retrieved from
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#sent/15754a94c8ca37f2?projector=1

12
 6. METHODOLOGY

As a first instance the vertical garden was designed with a series of activities that
promoted innovation in the ecological environment inside the institution, created
this garden took a period of time about two months, which was located in the
restaurant. Was feature a number of plants which are suitable for the growth of
this type of garden. This project is of great importance since visualize an
innovative idea to promote environmental development and raising awareness
girls from primary to environmental preservation and care of our institution, which
was made it by audiovisual and information media, where they was presented
the importance of this type of garden and the benefits it was broght the planting
of these in the institution.

7. PHASES OF RESEARCH

Tabla 1 Developing of Research

Date/deadline Activity

Early of April (one week) Search recycled materials for the

design and construction of the vertical
garden.

10 of April search the area suitable for locating

the garden

17 of April It will take place the first vertical

garden.

17 of April – 1 of May During these days the garden is going

to be painted and the plants are going
to be put into recycling plastic bottles.

End of May for these days it is expected to have

already made the first vertical garden
at school and to start the second one

Early of July – End of August Placement of the vertical gardens at

the park zone, and beginning of the
campaign for promoting respect care,

13
 awareness and conservation of the
environment at Cantillana School.

8. VIABILITY OF THE PROPOSAL

The positive impress of this project was reflected in the institution. First of all, the
design and development of this garden was to help not only to beautify but also in
the preservation of the environment, which may improve the welfare of the students
and the community in general. On the other hand all elementary students are linking
the knowledge to learn the real meaning of care and preservation for nature.

9. FINDIGS

In the study conducted in 2016, it has been determined that the effects of vertical
gardens to the School are very positive. Starting the implementation of the vertical
garden and making known through speeches, what is a vertical garden? What is its
function? And how it carried out? It was evident that elementary students have prior
knowledge about the subject, showing interest to learn more about their construction,
operation and importance of these for half the environment.

Another aspect that was evident in the construction of vertical gardens is that their
elaboration is not complicated and does not require very high costs, since it is made
of recyclable materials and easy to acquire. Green walls can reclaim disregarded
space by providing aesthetic stimulation where it would not otherwise be found. They
can also serve to create privacy and a sense of enclosure while limiting the negative
psychological effects associated with property demarcation. Also, Green walls can
help mitigate loss of biodiversity due to the effects of urbanization, help sustain a
variety of plants, pollinators and invertebrates, and provide habitat and nesting
places for various bird species and reducing ambient temperature via
evapotranspiration and shading.

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 10. IMPACT OF INVESTIGATION

 Academic:
The vertical gardens has a concern with the academically section as long as we
analyze, they can increase concentration in students and improve academic
performance. Green areas can improve mental performance of children is because
it protects them from the surrounding pollution from automobiles also reducing noise
and encouraging physical activity.

 Social:
Green areas create an environment of relaxation, lowering stress levels and creating
a better living environment with the community. Interact with nature is helpful to take
care of our mental health. Natural environments promote creativity, mental and
emotional abilities, so that urban green areas help to improve the longevity and
quality of life of students during the hours that are spent in Cantillana School.

 Environmental:
Green spaces help to reduce the consequences of global warming in the earth. The
vertical gardens decrease the air pollution, greenhouse gases and emissions of
carbon dioxide. Helping students to breathe a clean air that it is less dangerous to
the lungs. Also motivate students to respect, care and conservation of the
environment at Cantillana School.

11. CONCLUSIONS

Vertical gardening is basically about growing your plants upwards on vertical

surfaces, be it on the wall of a home or a large facade or building. The research
conducted at Cantillana School using two vertical gardens allowed to conclude that
it is certainly an option to still include some greenery in all spaces. Vertical gardening
is more than just aesthetics; it can help to cool and insulate buildings, and also
reducing the need and cost for air-conditioning.

By the way, growing plants using recycling materials can also help to filter air
particulates and improve air quality as well as add some humidity at the same time.
Vertical gardening requires little maintenance/trimming and mostly does not use soil.
It also helped to save water by reducing the need for irrigation and watering due to
the plants didn't need a lot of water.

15
With the expositions realized it was concluded that vertical greenery promoted
conservation and care of the different green areas surrounding Cantillana. Carry out
the realization of vertical gardens it stimulates creativity Cantillana community,
motivating students to design and build this type of gardens thinking about the care
and conservation of the environment.

12. RECOMMENDATION

 Promote research group which are made known the importance of vertical
gardens, applying them in different green areas of the College.

 Thinking that the construction of these gardens is not only for beautification,
but also to be given proper use for planting different plants.

 To request the different school officials for inclusion of a subject focused on

the preservation and care of the environment in the school training plan
Aspaen Gimnasio Cantillana.

13. REFERENCES

 (2014, March 3). La interesante historia de jardines verticales. Retrieved from

https://vivoemprendiendo.com/2014/03/03/la-interesante-historia-de-
jardinesverticales-com-mx-y-su-fundador-abdiel-aguirre/

 O. (2014, November 30). Tipos de jardínes verticales. Retrieved from

http://www.jardinesverticalesweb.com/tipos-y-disenos/

 G, I. G. (2011, December 9). QUE ES UN JARDIN VERTICAL. Retrieved from

http://gfgardenflower.blogspot.com.co/2011/12/que-es-un-jardin-vertical.html

 Portilla, J. N. (2013, September). LOS JARDINES VERTICALES EN LA

EDIFICACIÓN. Retrieved from
https://riunet.upv.es/bitstream/handle/10251/33814/TFM JUAN
NAVARRO.pdf

16
 T. B., & S. F. (n.d.). Vertical Gardens. Retrieved from
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#sent/15754a94c8ca37f2?projector=1

 P. B. (2012, February 10). Patrick Blanc: Jardines Verticales. Retrieved

from http://www.aryse.org/patrick-blanc-jardines-verticales/

 DesignPlus, Agencia de estrategias de marketing digital |

designplus.co, & D. (n.d.). Environmental school project | Gimnasio
Fontana School. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from
http://gimnasiofontana.edu.co/es/proyectos-estrategicos/proyecto-
ambiental-escolar

 Torres, E. I. (2011). Medio ambiente y proyecto ambiental escolar

(PRAE). Retrieved from
http://www.bdigital.unal.edu.co/4633/1/TESIS_MAESTRÍA_EN_ENSEÑA
NZA_DE_LAS_CIENCIAS_EXACTAS_Y_NATURALES-
SEDE_BOGOTÁ.pdf

 ABC de los Proyectos Educativos Escolares - PRAE - Mediateca. (2005,

June 3). Retrieved from
http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co/html/mediateca/1607/article-
81637.html

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ANNEXES

18
ANNEXES 1. EVIDENCES

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