Multifunctional green wall in primary school. An integrated approach between academics and local governance to improve educational environment

Abstract

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly adopted to reintroduce nature and vegetation and provide ecosystem services in cities. In the framework of NbS, green walls are implemented in outdoors and indoors for multifunctional purposes providing physical, psychological and social benefits for humans. Beyond these positive aspects, how can this type of NbS be efficiently implemented inside public buildings? What are the main constraints? How can local communities and municipalities manage the process to implement multi-functional indoor green walls in public buildings? This study offers an overview of these aspects based on the experience gained during the proGIreg project. It describes the case study of a primary school in the Municipality of Turin (Italy) involved in the project as a Living Lab that hosts an indoor green wall to provide multifunctional benefits including the improvement of indoor air quality and pro-environmental behaviour of students. The case study demonstrates potentialities offered by the indoor green wall to reduce the risk of air pollution exposure of students and school staff. Moreover, the indoor green wall is presented as an educational tool used to introduce NbS and their benefits to students and teachers through a specific educational program. This contribution describes the multi-perspective methodology adopted to involve all the actors of the quadruple helix innovation model (academic experts, technicians from companies, the municipality, and civil society) in the co-creation process. The design process is presented to introduce technical requirements and practical information for implementing indoor green walls in primary schools and providing indications to replicate the application in other contexts.