The growing importance of planters and foliage in modern apartments
Depending on the density of the foliage, planters can lower indoor temperatures by three to five degrees compared to the outdoors, providing a natural cooling effect
Saima Hamid, a resident of a modern apartment built by South Breeze in the capital's Gulshan area, enjoys the unique design of her home, which includes a 60-square-foot built-in planter next to the living room.
The planter, adorned with grasses and creeping plants, is not a usable space for them.
"Although we cannot use the space, it's our favourite corner of the apartment. The green view it offers is refreshing," Saima shared.
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She also noted that her east-facing apartment receives harsh sunlight during the morning, and the planter serves as an effective natural filter, softening the intensity of the light.
Built-in planters have become an increasingly popular choice in architecture and urban gardening because of their aesthetic appeal. They provide a way to incorporate greenery and natural elements into urban spaces, improving air quality and consequently reducing the urban heat island effect.
"For west-facing apartments, the role of planters goes far beyond aesthetics. Depending on the density of the foliage, planters can lower indoor temperatures by three to five degrees Celsius compared to the outdoors, providing a natural cooling effect," said Rehnuma Tasnim Sheefa, principal architect of Parti studio.
Difference between planters and balconies
"Planters are just giant containers for growing outdoor plants," said Ipshita Mazhar, architect and BUET alumnus who is currently pursuing her master's from Iowa State University.
Planter boxes are, in basic terms, containers used for growing outdoor or indoor plants, shrubs, and trees in urban spaces where traditional soil-based gardening is not possible. By contrast, balconies are architectural extensions of a building, typically outside an apartment.
Balconies provide outdoor space for relaxation, views, or socialising and can hold furniture, planters, or other items, turning it into a mini-garden or lounging area.
"We advise flat owners/tenants not to place furniture on the planters, as it can damage the grass. If desired, we build a deck or stone/concrete pavements in the planters, making a portion of the area usable without damaging the grass," explained Ipshita.
She noted that while balconies present a great opportunity for incorporating greenery, many tenants and owners overlook this potential. For those who do embrace it, proper maintenance is often a challenge, leading to poorly kept plants that compromise the building's exterior aesthetics.
"To combat this, many developers are now opting for built-in planters to ensure a consistently appealing look. They've also taken on the responsibility of maintaining these planters, preserving both the greenery and the overall aesthetic of the property," she added.
Infrastructure and maintenance of planters
Planters come in various materials like ceramic, terracotta, plastic, metal, and concrete. The choice of material affects durability, aesthetics, and suitability for different climates.
"Planters are a multi-layered composite system. The base structure has a waterproofing membrane on top, followed by a drainage medium, which includes a geotextile grid and a filter fabric with gravel on top. This is then connected to the plumbing line. Lastly, the entire system is topped with one to one and a half feet of soil for planting," explained Dishan Rahman, an architect at Dehsar Works.
She further mentioned that the depth of the soil layer can vary depending on the size of the installation and plant types.
"The trick is to start with a base of infertile soil, followed by a layer of fertile soil. The plants have access to the necessary nutrients and can grow deep into the composite soil layer. The soil layer might require more depth for deep-rooted plants," she added.
Regarding maintenance, planters often require ongoing attention and are usually maintained by the developer companies, as they can be high-maintenance installations. Watering systems for planters can be set up either through integrated pipelines or mechanical sprinklers to ensure consistent hydration.
Foliage as a privacy layer
Foliage and creepers can serve as natural privacy layers in modern apartments by creating a green barrier between living spaces and the outside world. When planted along balconies, terraces, or built-in planters, these climbing plants and dense foliage can shield windows and outdoor areas from prying eyes while maintaining a refreshing, aesthetic appeal.
Md Osman Ghani, a wealth analyst at a multinational bank, resides in a condominium built by Shanta Holdings, located in Banani. The building features three flats per floor, with Ghani's apartment facing the front.
"There are two apartments facing the front, and ours is one of them. As a result, the balcony of our master bedroom is adjacent to the balcony of the neighbouring apartment's master bedroom, with no privacy barrier in between," Ghani explained.
"At first, we considered using bamboo curtains for privacy, but it didn't feel appropriate for such a modern apartment. Then, we decided to plant creepers along the wall. Within six months, they grew into a lush, green layer, providing us with a natural privacy barrier," he added.
Creepers offer a sustainable and visually pleasing alternative to traditional privacy solutions like curtains or screens, allowing light and air to flow through while blocking direct views.
Additionally, they can also help reduce noise and filter dust, contributing to a more serene and private living environment.
Green walls
"The larger idea of incorporating greenery in architecture is to make the buildings look like a living thing, not an object," opined Dishan.
Living green walls are panels of plants grown vertically using hydroponics on structures that can be either free-standing or attached to walls. Living green walls are also referred to as vertical gardens, green walls, living walls, or eco walls.
The famous wall of the BUET architecture building is a perfect example of green walls.
"Plants cannot grow directly on concrete or painted walls; they require a porous structure to attach and thrive," explained Dishan.
"If you want to introduce a green wall, it's not something that can be easily added later. It needs to be part of the planning phase from the very beginning, as it involves careful landscape architecture."
The same concept applies to rooftop gardening, where the soil and plant loads must be carefully calculated from the outset.
For a 2014 academic paper, Tania Hossain, the author from the Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University studied four metropolitan areas of Dhaka city to assess plant species diversity of rooftop gardens in Dhaka. In that paper, she noticed that there were 35 species of fruit and 10 species of medicinal plants in the gardens.
"Mango, beli, brinjal, patabahar (ornamental greens), and mint were found most prevalent in their respective category," she mentioned. As vertical apartment buildings receive a selective amount of sunlight throughout the day, different ornamental plants that are low maintenance are chosen for balconies. And for rooftop gardens, hybrid species of fruits and flowers are planted as they need less soil and space to thrive.
