1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Sevilla (FUA)
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Jardin Vertical
Short description of the intervention
A 40 m2 vertical garden installed on one of the clinic's walls in 2012. It was the first vertical garden to be constructed in a hospital in Europe. It aimed to create a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere for visitors and patients at the clinic, improve the air quality and humidity of the complex and beautify the space of the hospital. (Ref 1) Over 1400 plants with over 40 species were included in the vertical garden (Ref 2).
Address

Calle Rafael Salgado, 3
41013 Sevilla
Spain

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Total area
40.00m²
NBS area
40.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Building
Website of the intervention
http://www.terapiaurbana.es/project/jardin-vertical-en-ampliacion-hospital-quir…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2011
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2012
End date of the intervention
2012
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
- To create a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere for visitors and patients at the clinic. (Ref 2)
- To reduce anxiety levels of patients at the hospital. (Ref 2)
- To better the air quality and humidity of the complex. (Ref 2)
- To beautify the space of the hospital. (Ref 1)
-Reduce noise pollution (Ref 2)
Quantitative targets
40 m2 of garden on a facade wall of the building.Over 1400 plants with over 40 species included in the garden. (Ref 2) The system established for the vertical garden also monitors the temperature, humidity and Ph level of the plants to regulate the water. (Ref 3)
Monitoring indicators defined
m2 green wall, number of plants (Ref 2); temperature, humidity and Ph level of the plants (Ref 3)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Water management (SDG 6)
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Soil quality improvement
Air quality improvement
Noise reduction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Improving mental health
Improving physical health
Implementation activities
The project was planned during February and March of 2011 (Ref 1)
It was implemented at the end of August 2012. (Ref 1)
Part of the process included identifying the over 40 species to be used, for their aesthetic value, climatic needs, and air-quality filtration capacities. (Ref 1)
Garden is watered through closed circuit managed by remote control monitoring humidity, temperature, water quality, and pH (Ref 2,3,4)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Nature on buildings (external)
Green walls or facades
Type of Green Wall
Hydroponic living wall (soil-less)
Vegetation Type
Other
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Noise reduction
Water purification / filtration
Mediation of smell / noise / visual impacts
Other
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals
Social and community interactions
Please specify "other regulating service"
'climatic needs' (Ref 1)
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Private sector/Corporate/Company
Citizens or community groups
Other
Please specify "other primary beneficiary"
patients at the hospital. (Ref 2)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The intervention was commissioned by the Hospital Quiron Sagrado Corazon. The company Terapia Urbana, which is tied to the University of Sevilla, collaborated with architects Jose Manuel Peinado and Ignacio Quijano at Peinado Architects. The operation, management and control technology was developed with Idener, another company of the University of Sevilla (Ref 1).
Key actors - initiating organization
Public sector institution
Land owners
Hospital
Please specify other Key actors - Other stakeholders involved
patients at the hospital. (Ref 2)
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Public sector institution
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Researchers/university
Other
Land owners
Hospital
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
No
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
No
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
No
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
From 2009 the USP Sagrado Corazon clinic complex has held the ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental care and respect. (Ref 2)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
No
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
No
Please specify other vegetation type
Over 1400 plants with over 40 species included in vertical garden (Ref 2)
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Terapia Urbana company is part of the technological base of the University of Sevilla. (Ref 2)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Unknown
Type of fund(s) used
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
No
Business models
Green health model
Please specify other environmental impact
Sustainable Consumption (Ref 2) ; monitoring of humidity (Ref 2)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The garden watering and draining system uses Terapia Urbana's trademarked Fytotextile which allows for the water to be distributed in a closed watering system designed for the garden. Leftover water is collected in gutters below the garden and pumped to the filtering and purification center from where it is re-introduced into the watering system. (Ref 1) The system also monitors the temperature, humidity and Ph level of the plants to regulate the water. (Ref 3)
It was the first vertical garden to be constructed in a hospital in Europe. (Ref 1)
Novelty level of the innovation
Ambiguous (e.g. multiple interpretations)
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The vertical garden was inspired by Roberto Burle Marx's vertical garden at the Ministry of Education and Public Health in Brasil. (2)
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is transferred to new initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Terapia Urbana specializes on vertical gardens and creates new aesthetic concepts for each one, using its trademarked technology. (Ref 1)
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Reduced noise exposure
Improved soil quality
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Other
Description of environmental benefits
Expected Impacts:
Reduce noise pollution (Ref 2)
-‘one square meter of plant cover generates the oxygen required by a person in a whole year and traps 130 grams of dust annually’ (Ref 2)

Achieved Impacts:
Creation of green space: 40 m2 (Ref 1-4)
Improved air quality (Air purification) (Ref 2)
Sustainable consumption: Garden is watered through closed-circuit managed by remote control monitoring humidity, temperature, and water quality (Ref 2)
The garden watering and draining system uses Terapia Urbana's trademarked Fytotextile which allows for the water to be distributed in a closed watering system designed for the garden. Leftover water is collected in gutters below the garden and pumped to the filtering and purification center from where it is re-introduced into the watering system. (Ref 1) The system also monitors the temperature, humidity and Ph level of the plants to regulate the water. (Ref 3)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Improved mental health
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Please specify other environmental justice issue
improved air quality : -‘one square meter of plant cover generates the oxygen required by a person in a whole year and traps 130 grams of dust annually’ (Ref 2)
-‘vegetated environments reduce the level of stress and anxiety, improving performance and increasing the feeling of well-being’ (Ref 2)
-‘stimulate the immune system and reduce physical discomfort (dry skin and mucous membranes, breathing, fatigue ...) by up to 50 percent in closed environments’ (Ref 2)
Description of social and cultural benefits
Expected Impacts:
Environmental Health:
-‘one square meter of plant cover generates the oxygen required by a person in a whole year and traps 130 grams of dust annually’ (Ref 2)
-‘vegetated environments reduce the level of stress and anxiety, improving performance and increasing the feeling of well-being’ (Ref 2)
-‘stimulate the immune system and reduce physical discomfort (dry skin and mucous membranes, breathing, fatigue ...) by up to 50 percent in closed environments’ (Ref 2)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
m2 of green space (Ref 1,2,4);
humidity, temperature, pH (Ref 2)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Water management (SDG 6)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Environmental quality
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Other
Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
From 2009 the USP Sagrado Corazon clinic complex has held the ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental care and respect. (Ref 2)
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of 28 September 2020
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Other
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown; however --From 2009 the USP Sagrado Corazon clinic complex has held the ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental care and respect. (Ref 2)
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 1 Jardin Vertical en Hospital Quirón Sagrado Corazón Sevilla
Ref. 2 USP Sagrado Corazón implanta un 'jardín vertical' para reducir los nivel…
Ref. 3 Terapia Urbana’s Vertical Garden Brightens a Seville Hospital with 40 Sp…
Ref. 4 En Detalle: Jardín Vertical en Clínica USP Sagrado Corazón, Sevilla / Te…
Jardín vertical en un hospital de Sevilla
Jardin Vertical
List of references
1. Terapia Urbana. (2016). Jardin Vertical en Hospital Quiron Sagrado Corazon Sevilla. Sevilla. Available at: http://www.terapiaurbana.es/project/jardin-vertical-en-ampliacion-hospital-quiron-sagrado-corazon-sevilla/ [Accessed: 25 September 2020].
2. Europa Press. (2012). USP Sagrado Corazon implanta un 'jardin vertical'... . Sevilla. Available at: http://www.europapress.es/andalucia/sevilla-00357/noticia-usp-sagrado-corazon-implanta-jardin-vertical-reducir-niveles-estres-pionero-europa-20121004142207.html [Accessed: 25 September 2020].
3. Cameron, Charley. (2012). Terapia Urbana's Vertical Garden Brightens a Seville Hospital with 40 Species of Lush Greenery. Available at: http://inhabitat.com/terapia-urbanas-vertical-garden-brightens-a-seville-hospital-with-40-species-of-lush-greenery/ [Accessed: 25 September 2020].
4. Franco, Jose Tomas. (2012). En Detalle: Jardin Vertical en Clinica USP Sagrado Corazon, Sevilla. Online: Plataforma Arquitectura. Available at: http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cl/02-207267/en-detalle-jardin-vertical-en-clinica-usp-sagrado-corazon-sevilla-terapia-urbana [Accessed: 25 September 2020].
5. Hospital Quirónsalud Sagrado Corazón (n.d.). International Patient. Available at: https://www.quironsalud.es/sagrado-corazon/es/international-patient [Accessed 28 September 2020].
Comments and notes
Comments
2020 comments:
Since the intervention is part of a private hospital/ clinic it was possible to find the goals, benefits and innovation information. However, details such as budget and monitoring are not made public.
Additional insights
2020 comments:
Section 6/ Indicators: 1 m2 of greenery creates the oxygen necessary for one person for a year, then the garden's 40 m2 are a contribution to air quality and zone humidity. (Ref 1)
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/jardin-vertical-usp_terapia-urbana-04.jpg
Public Images
Vertical Garden 1
Source: Ref. 3
Vertical Garden 2
Source: Ref 3
Vertical Garden 3
Source: Ref. 3
Vertical Garden Installation
Source: Ref. 4