Nature's Purifying Touch Harnessing the Power of Trees and Landscape Design for Air Purification

The issue of PM2.5 still returns and remains a problem that cities must confront. PM2.5 recurs from various causes, but most of the problems come from the urban activities in large cities,such as smoke from transportation and particle pollution from construction in cities where fulfill of tall buildings often. Following the cause of the issue could lead to Urban heat islands and air circulation being hindered. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that more than 9 out of 10 people worldwide are breathing air filled with pollution.

Shma invites everyone to explore the principles of landscape design in various forms that help improve the quality of life and manage pollution through designs. This solution will advantage of the capabilities of various plants to reduce fine particulate matter, while also enhancing the safety and quality of urban living.

Purifying System

Particulate pollution occurs in many areas, each with its own set of challenges. Recently, cities have begun facing air pollution problems. There has started to understand the practical aspects of making cities greener through the design of green spaces such as home gardens, condominiums, and various office buildings. This involves the use of a variety of trees and plants that can mitigate the severity of dust and improve the quality of life.

According to the research, They said that trees in the cities and dust filtration can affect people's health and life expectancy. Moreover, some studies show the type of tree and the pattern for planting along the concept plant purifying system.

Trees are already known as natural air filters that are readily accessible. The leaves are spreading out to trap and filter particles. The minuscule size of dust particles, some are absorbed along with the plant's respiration process but Larger particles can stick to the leaves due to moisture. When these leaves shed or are washed by water, those small dust particles are flushed to the ground.

For plantlists, you could use a various type of plants to create an effective layer of filtration including shrubs, vines, and trees. Even ground-cover plants, which may not have sprawling branches, can help in preventing dust from becoming airborne again.

Best Air Purifying Plants List

Every plant can capture dust particles, but some of species are more efficient from catching the dust. For example, trees with hairy leaves can retain moisture well, such as West Indian Lantana, Bengal clockvine, Night-flowering jasmine, evergreen plants and trees with large leaves are also good at trapping dust such as Perfume flower trees, Fiddle Fig, or even various type of philodendrons. Even small-leaved shrubs can effectively filter dust, there are Yellow elder, Cape jasmine, and Australian Rose Apple.

Exploring the Landscape Typology of Air-Purifying Environments.

Adaptation to climate change, smoke, and pollution in cities, landscape architecture also plays a crucial role in addressing these issues. This includes creating green public spaces in urban areas and integrating green spaces into the grey infrastructure such as walls and building facades. Selecting dust-filtering plants for areas with high dust concentrations, such as roads or building fronts, and even for indoor spaces, can help serve as natural dust filters. These efforts not only contribute to reducing pollution but also enhance the quality of life by providing cleaner air and more aesthetically pleasing environments.

Green Buffer - This concept involves restoring natural and agricultural areas around cities to serve as barriers against external dust and smoke. These buffers also help manage floodwaters during the rainy season. Moreover, green buffers can help contain urban sprawl by creating a compact city layout, reducing the need for long-distance car travel and subsequently decreasing dust and smoke emissions.

Green Corridor - Urban roads and areas under expressways, which are prevalent in city zones, can be enhanced with green spaces to help filter dust from the city. This is achieved by selecting a variety of plants that can filter dust, including trees, shrubs, and ground cover, arranged in bands at least 3 meters wide, and spaced to allow airflow. The green corridor concept also facilitates connectivity among scattered green spaces across the city, creating a green network for people and wildlife to navigate through.

Green Building - This approach encourages the private sector to integrate green spaces into building development, especially in dense urban areas, to mitigate heat island effects and filter dust. This can include vertical gardens, green roofs, open spaces in front of buildings, or elevating buildings to allow natural light and green spaces to permeate the ground level. These areas can also be made accessible for public use.

Green Wall - Green walls are a method of incorporating nature into urban and building environments to reduce dust levels and harmonize with the vertical greenery, also contributing to overall temperature reduction.

Indoor Plants - Growing indoor plants has become a trend for many looking to increase greenery within homes, enhancing relaxation and ambiance. Some plants are not only aesthetically pleasing but also capable of purifying the air by absorbing toxins, thus reducing indoor dust particles.

Forest House

The Forest House project proposes the concept of creating sustainable green spaces in dense cities without reducing residential space. This is achieved by utilizing vertical space to increase greenery from the ground floor to the rooftop, turning the entire house into a small forest within a large city. This combats sunlight and dust particles in urban areas. With more than 100 different plant species within the house, it can help lower temperatures, absorb carbon dioxide, and produce oxygen, serving as an excellent natural air conditioning system.

FYI Center

FYI Center is an office building located at the Klong Toey junction, an area with dense traffic, crowded with cars, noise, and pollution. One of the project's design concepts utilizes the planting of multiple layers and types of trees to reduce pollution without severing connections with the surrounding area. Trees are arranged in a perimeter to reduce the amount of dust and pollution from the roads and elevated ways, while still maintaining a connection with the cityscape.

The trees and vegetation selected for the project are chosen for their diversity and efficiency in absorbing pollutants. Examples of perennial trees in this project are White Chempaka, Yang, Rosewood, and Beleric myrobalan are designed as barriers against impacts from the overpass and also work together with shrubs and ground cover plants like Gardenia and Maile-Scented Fern. Besides absorbing pollutants, these plants also contribute to the well-being of the people using the space and attract surrounding wildlife.

Tara Park

Tara Park is a project designed under the Smart Green concept, transforming the infrastructure to connect people and nature. Additionally, it uses nature as the core solution to problems. The design approach of Tara Park marks the beginning of sustainability and adaptability to future climate changes.

Tara Park also creates a comfortable environment by reducing outdoor temperatures naturally, allocating areas for tree planting, and designing a diverse range of vegetation to create shade, dust filters, and sunlight. It reduces the heat accumulation of paving materials with water bodies surrounding the office buildings, creating a pleasant atmosphere and views from both inside and outside the building. It offers both beauty and functionality, being friendly to users and the public.

Plan B

Plan B Media is a media service provider known for its distinctive media formats and sizes, installed in key strategic locations to capture attention and be visible whenever people leave their homes. This makes the landscape design of the Plan B office building filled with creative designs and the use of vegetation that provides green spaces for both internal and external users of the building. In particular, the green wall is a prominent and unique feature that helps absorb dust particles and noise for the city. At the same time, the green wall also creates a scenic view of the city which offers beautiful and healthy vistas to people passing by whether walking or driving.

Safezone Shelter?

The Safezone Shelter pavilion was designed like a smooth cloud shape also respond to the challenge of creating a space that protects people from air pollution by trapping dust and purifying the air to make it clean, thereby creating a comfortable environment. This is achieved through the planting of various species of lush vegetation that help filter and purify the air in conjunction with an engineered air filtration system. Additionally, the area is designed for comfortable seating, accompanied by experimental music, allowing everyone to temporarily escape from the outside world.

As mentioned, the pavilion integrates both mechanical air filtration systems and plants that naturally purify the air. When contaminated air is drawn in by the fan system, the first line of defense is a range of trees and shrubs that trap dust through transpiration. Additionally, ground cover plants help absorb toxins and volatile substances. The air then flows through dust filters and cooling panels to reduce the temperature to a comfortable level. With this, visitors inside can breathe air that is both clean and refreshing with ease.