The BreatheGreen project (Building Reliable Ecofriendly Affordable Transversal Façades to Make Whole Europe Green) is an ambitious international initiative aimed at enhancing urban biodiversity and reducing heat stress through affordable, low-maintenance green façade solutions.
Led by the AhlmanEdu and funded by the Erasmus+ KA220-VET programme, the project will install two TecRoc Urban green walls in each of the six participating countries – one in a sunny location and the other in a shady spot. This approach will allow researchers and educators to assess how different climate conditions impact green façade performance and explore how native plant species can be integrated into urban infrastructure.
A Collaborative Effort for Urban Greening
BreatheGreen is being implemented in close cooperation with regional green clusters and vocational education institutions, ensuring that the knowledge gained is shared widely among students, educators, and business operators. Training will focus on the installation, maintenance, and monitoring of the TecRoc Urban system.
To track real-world performance, the project will utilize a web-based platform to collect real-time data from each wall. Two monitoring reports will be produced, analysing the system’s impact on temperature regulation, biodiversity, and overall urban greening potential.
The project will also raise awareness through existing communication channels, including The European Platform for Urban Greening network of vocational schools and landscaping companies.
Key Objectives briefly
– Twelve TecRoc Urban green walls installed across six European countries.
– Training programs and learning materials developed for vocational schools and business professionals.
– Integration of green wall technology into vocational school curricula.
– Two monitoring reports on system performance.
– Promotion of urban greening awareness through industry networks.
Why TecRoc Urban?
Developed in Spain, the TecRoc Urban façade system is a low-tech, low-cost, and low-maintenance solution for increasing urban greenery, improving biodiversity, and mitigating urban heat stress. Unlike traditional green façade systems, TecRoc Urban has a significantly lower cost per square meter, making large-scale urban greening more accessible for cities, businesses, and communities.
Countries and Partners Involved
The BreatheGreen project brings together a strong consortium of five vocational schools and six companies across Europe:
– Finland: AhlmanEdu & Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti Oy
– Netherlands: Yuverta & Koninklijke Ginkel Groep B.V.
– Denmark: Jordbrugets Uddannelsescenter Århus & OKNygaard A/S
– Romania: Liceul Tehnologic Cezar Nicolau & RPR Birou De Studii Contemporane
– Spain: Federación EFAS CV La Malvesia & Paisajistas Del Mediterraneo Sl
– Czech Republic: ITTEC, S.R.O
Next Steps and Implementation Timeline
The project runs from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2026. 11 walls have now been installed, and the growth and monitoring phase begins.
Veera Kautonen from Rakennusbetoni ja Elementti company says they are looking forward to seeing how the vegetation develops. They are also looking forward to developing cooperation on materials, how to better support the circular economy and how to further explore the vegetation suitable for plant walls. There is already great interest in vertical solutions, and it is great to take forward knowledge on urban greening solutions.
Diana Culescu from RPR Birou De Studii Contemporane company in Romania reports that the implementation of the BreathGreen project in Romania has progressed steadily with the installation of all structural elements for the two demonstration green walls. A special area was also prepared for testing hydroseeding techniques, given that this technique has not been previously used for such green installations in Romania. However, due to an unusually cold and rainy spring, the hydroseeding component has not yet been carried out.
In March 2025, a hands-on workshop was organized in Romania as part of the project, bringing together professionals, university students, high school students, and teachers. The event served as an opportunity to present the TecRoc Urban system, encourage knowledge sharing, and allow participants to engage directly with the installation and its technical components.
From the dissemination point of view, the project has already been presented at two major events: the Construction Forum held in Bucharest, in the Romanian Parliament, on March 19, 2025, and the Conference of AsoP Bucharest 2025 #AgoraVerde – where it sparked valuable discussions around green infrastructure and innovative approaches to urban sustainability.
Through hands-on learning, real-world testing, and international collaboration, BreatheGreen is setting a new standard for sustainable urban infrastructure – paving the way for greener, more resilient European cities. We are now looking forward to seeing what kind of vegetation will grow on the walls this year, what will overwinter on them and what kind of measurements we will get on the temperature extremes.
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