Newsportal
„UB Vertical Gardens“
Our visitor figures clearly show that the University Library is an attractive place to learn: 850,000 people visited the University Library in 2023, and the trend is still rising.
To enable us to improve further, this October we asked first-semester students for feedback on what is positive about the UB and what could be improved. In addition to many other things, it was said several times that the plants at the UB are perceived very positively and that there should be more of them.
This wish was quickly granted: At the end of November, the UB expanded its “Vertical Gardens” in its impressive stairwell between floors 6 and 5 by adding numerous new planter boxes with ivies (Epipremnum aureum), so that the green curtains will now grow down from 4 more balustrade areas. The green ribbons of leaves will be up to 10 m long - as shown by the two areas that were planted in spring 2023.
The positive effects of vertical gardens inside buildings are described as improving the indoor climate by absorbing air pollutants, producing oxygen and releasing moisture from the leaves. Greenery is also good for our well-being: looking at greenery has a calming effect, can lead to stress reduction [1] and could even promote concentration [2].
This should contribute to a more relaxed learning atmosphere and improved quality of stay at Bochum University Library.
The expansion of the vertical gardens in the library is a component of Bochum University Library's sustainability strategy.
Jörg Albrecht, UB Bochum
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Ji-Eun Jeong, Park S. “Physiological and psychological effects of visual stimulation with green plant types.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(24):12932. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/physiological-psychological-effects-visual/docview/2612783551/se-2. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412932
[2] Hye Sook Jang, Jongyun Kim, Ki Seong Kim, Chun Ho Pak. “Human Brain Activity and Emotional Responses to Plant Color Stimuli.” Color research & application. 39.3 (2014): 307–316. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/col.21788
Photography news overview and article: © RUB, Albrecht
| by UB Team