Lately we’ve seen some incredible projects that make great use of the insulating and air-purifying benefits of green walls. The latest to strike our eye is this clean-lined office surrounded by the rolling Bío Bío hills in the center of Concepción, Chile. Conceived by Enrique Browne Arquitectos. , the building makes extensive use of locally-sourced materials and is enveloped in a leafy green facade overflowing with bougainvillea, jasmine, and plumbago.

Enrique Browne Arquitectos‘ Consorcio headquarters is located on a corner adjacent to the city’s only church dating from the 19th century. The church’s facade was damaged by an earthquake, so part of the project was dedicated to revitalizing the space between the two buildings. A courtyard now joins the structures, adding public space and developing a harmonious link from the past to the present.

The office itself is composed of three elements. A vertical green wall constructed from locally-sourced wood shields the structure from the sun to the North, East, and west, and acts as a “double green skin” that insulates the interior. The structure’s south wall features a high-performance facade constructed from locally-sourced corrugated metal that helps to insulate the interior and render it highly energy efficient. The third element is a cantilevered roof that provides shade to the structure’s top floor balcony.

[inhabitat]