Technological Greenery. Exploring cutting-edge solutions for performant Greenery integration in building envelope design

• Progressive convergence of nature and artifice in envelope design. • Use of performant Greenery as a cultural expression in contemporary architecture. • Definition of “Technological Greenery” • Cutting-edge solutions for integrating Greenery into building envelopes can arise from cross-disciplinary applications. • An abacus of technological solutions with measurable performances for practitioners. In recent years, there has been a growing integration between nature and technology, which has led to the emergence of Greenery as a bio-based building technology that can provide not only aesthetics but also ecosystem services. Similar to photovoltaic in its early days, Greenery is undergoing extensive design experimentation to make it an expression of contemporary culture rather than a mere ’greenwashing’ practice. In urban areas, competition for space is driving the development of innovative envelope designs, often stemming from the combination of different disciplines and, therefore, not easy to be systematized. This study aims to explore potential technological systems from both practice and academic research to maximise the integration of Greenery into building envelopes. The systems are categorised as Technological Greenery and are classified according to their primary function, such as thermal insulation, air purification, electricity generation, and food production. This classification makes it easier to identify the most pressing and innovative technological research topics related to building envelopes and greenery integration. The resulting abacus of solutions accompanied by performance data might be helpful for building designers and architects.