The theme of the green façade characterises the identity of the Heimatmole project. It forms an integral conceptual component that is far more than an ecological or technical measure. It is intended to show how nature can create its own space in HafenCity, even in an urban location. The green façade will also have a positive effect on the microclimate. The focus is solely on the inner courtyard, its open space and the façade areas facing it.

In this sense, we have assigned the greenery directly to the open areas of the flats as added value and thus achieved a quality of use: the atmosphere of a green room, a garden on the floor, as sun protection, as wind protection, as a kitchen garden and as a clear design feature of the building that has a community-building effect.

In this way, the greenery is a direct added value for the residents of the building owners' community Heimatmole, for living and as a point of identification: for the residents' self-image and pride in their work and house.

Façade-based greening systems

The concept of productive greenery is continued in the planting of the façade systems. In the private balcony area of the residents, façade-bound greening systems are arranged that allow individual greening, for example with kitchen herbs. The outer building envelope up to the balcony guardrails is planted with vines. Table grapes grow here within reach of the residents and can be picked from the balcony from summer to autumn.

Ground-based façade greening

Every two storeys there is a plant container embedded in the floor slab, into which the vines are planted. The planting concept involves allowing the vines to grow upwards over two storeys and keeping them in shape through pruning and care. Four different grape varieties are used for planting, which have proven themselves for planting as a trellis on the house wall and also flavourful as table grapes. Two of these varieties bear white grapes and two blue grapes. Resistance to disease and fungal infestation is particularly important when choosing a variety.

The walls close to the flats can be greened using a wall construction with integrated plant containers. The developed planting system can be filled as required. The concept provides for plant species with different location requirements to be arranged vertically in the system. This has to do with exposure, water and nutrient supply. The lower areas tend to receive less light than the upper areas. The same applies to the supply of water and nutrients. Watering and fertilising is done from above. All containers are reached via a flow-through system, but only a small amount reaches the lower containers. The planting is organised in such a way that herbaceous, annual plants such as basil or parsley are used in the upper section and woody, drought-loving plants such as rosemary are used in the lower section.