Uncovering the impact of grey cities

The rise of grey facades

As cities expand and urbanization accelerates, we are surrounded by an increasing number of grey facades—concrete, brick, and glass that dominate our environments. Have you ever walked through your city in the peak of summer, feeling the heat radiating off buildings? These grey structures contribute to the urban heat island effect, making cities hotter and more challenging to live in. But the impact of grey facades doesn’t end there. They shape our well-being, our mental health, and the very air we breathe. As we look at these facades, we must ask: what kind of city do we want to live in?

CHALLENGE 

Our challenge is to understand the broader impacts of grey facades in urban areas and demonstrate the benefits of green facades. Specifically, we aim to compare the effects of grey facades—those made of concrete, brick, and glass—on urban heat islands, mental and physical health, and energy efficiency, versus the potential improvements from biophilic or green facades.

The answers we want to have answered:

• How to collect data on grey facades?
• What are the effects/impacts of grey facades?
• How to showcase the current state of grey facades convincingly?