Qualità ambientale e percezione dei sistemi di verde verticale: un caso studio

In November 2014 a vertical greening system was installed in the city of Genoa (Italy) on the south façade of a public institution office building, built in the '30s. The building is located in the city center of Genoa Sestri Ponente, area characterized by a relatively high population density (13,000 inhabitants / km2) and road traffic which causes air pollution. This environmental problem is more evident also due to the canyon effect created by relatively high buildings (4-6 floors) and narrow streets. The project was funded by INPS (National Institute of Social Insurance) with the aim to build up a pilot project aimed at improving environmental quality and energy performances. Performances of vertical greening systems will be qualified and evaluated also thanks to the collaboration of ARPA Liguria and RSE SpA. The monitoring activity (developed by the authors) regards the effects of vertical greening in improving air quality, enhancing building envelope performances (i.e. reduction of energy demand for heating and air conditioning) and the evaluation of economic and environmental sustainability. With the aim to evaluate the users perception of this first green façade built up in Genoa, a sociological survey was carried out involving local residents and employees working in the building. As demonstrated by several studies, urban green improves citizens’ psychological well-being. The opinion of observers with regard to the introduction of a new element (as a green façade) in an habitat is influenced by experiences, cultural model, etc. Nonetheless, the survey conducted before, during, and after the installation of the green facade shows that, with respect to vertical greening, negative effects may prevail on the positive in the opinion of (some of) the people interviewed. Environmental quality in terms of comfort and air quality has to be considered along with perceptive aspects to introduce successfully a new (innovative) element in urban space.