Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol.11 (1), January 2013 687 www.world-food.net Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment Vol.11 (1): 687-692. 2013 WFL Publisher Science and Technology Meri-Rastilantie 3 B, FI-00980 Helsinki, Finland e-mail: info@world-food.net Use of outdoor living walls in Mediterranean-like climates: A case study of Antalya Kaleiçi Zuhal Kaynakçı Elinç 1 *, Latif Gürkan Kaya 2 , Hacer Mutlu Danacı 3 , İbrahim Baktir 4 and Ramazan Süleiman Göktürk 5 1 Interior and Environmental Design, Faculty of Fine Arts, Akdeniz University, 07059 Antalya, Turkey. 2 Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, İnönü University, 44280 Malatya, Turkey. 3 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts, 4 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, 5 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07059 Antalya, Turkey. *e-mail: zuhalelinc@gmail.com, lgkaya@gmail.com, hacermutlu@gmail.com, ibrahim.baktir@gmail.com, gokturk@akdeniz.edu.tr Received 2 September 2012, accepted 24 January 2013. Abstract The aim of this study was to identify suitable greening project(s) that can be accomplished in good harmony with the historical walls of Antalya Kaleiçi, which are strictly protected monuments. Three different methods were considered for greening the walls. First one is planting climbing plants very close to the walls, second one is planting climbing plants near walls that are already protected by wire cages, and the last is using PVC flat framing with a self-watering system. Recently, the importance of green lands has been widely accepted and appreciated by authorities. Green walls block noise, cold, and heat; reduce air pollution and prevailing winds; provide better habitat microclimates for biodiversity of animals and plants; and improve aesthetic characteristics of living areas and water management. Living walls are rather important in regions characterized by hot summers, such as the Mediterranean Basin, since they can modify the atmosphere by reducing the effects of high temperatures. Living walls also reduce energy consumption by reducing air conditioner usage. Use of living walls should be wide-spread in such areas because of these advantages, in addition to the aesthetic and ecologic superiorities that they provide. The only disadvantage of incorporating living walls is the required management of irrigation systems. The use of green walls in the Kaleiçi will provide an example for similar geographical regions. Key words: Living walls, Antalya, Kaleiçi old city, plants. Introduction Living wall is loosely defined as any man made three-dimensional vertical surface covered in vegetation. The illusion of a natural, wild surface is created. It may serve a number of aesthetic and environmental functions 1 . Living wall systems are one of the sections of vertical green and have two categories (Fig. 1): 1) prefabricated living wall systems and 2) in situ living wall systems. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were shown as one of the Seven Wonders of the World during Ancient times, are very important as inspiration for the vertical gardens of today. Nevertheless there are only written documents but no archeological findings 2- 5 . Also, green facades offer the potential to learn from traditional architecture, the earliest form of vertical gardens dates from 2000 years ago in Mediterranean region 3 . The first modern vertical garden in Canada was introduced at the Canada Life Centre Environmental Room in downtown Toronto in 1994 4 . Recently, architects and responsible agencies are trying to create green lands around the residence area, and they are searching for new configurations of green. Green can be applied on different manners in urban areas. Since the outer surfaces of buildings offer a great amount of space for vegetations in urban cities, planting on roofs and walls has become one of the most innovative and rapidly developing fields in the worlds of ecology, horticulture and the built environment 5 . The importance of green fields in urban areas is being accepted more and more by architects, landscape architects, urban planners, and local authorities 6, 7 . The results of previously conducted studies reveal that people prefer green fields rather than completely built-up areas 7- 11 . Green walls are not only spectacularly beautiful, but also helpful in enlivening the ambiance 12 . Besides blocking noise, planted walls reduce air pollution, and help to regulate the internal temperature of the buildings, thus reducing air conditioner usage in summer months 4, 13-16 . In fact both the growing medium and the plants themselves provide insulation and shade which can reduce, especially in Mediterranean area, energy for cooling and improve the indoor Vertical green Green façades Living wall systems Wall vegetation Planted into the soil Planted in planter box Prefabricated In situ Natural vegetation Prefabricated panels for vegetation Figure 1. Diagram of vertical greening systems 5 .