Visitors stand inside the Green House at Taipei International Flower Show yesterday.

If you think it is just a house decorated with flowers on the outside, you may want to pay a second visit to the show because it is actually a greenhouse designed with creativity and environmental care in mind.

Everything is green in the Green House. Impatiens walleriana, or busy lizzy, cover its exterior walls. This species is native to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. The seedpod explodes when ripe in the same manner as other Impatiens species, an evolutionary adaptation for seed dispersal.

Other green elements include fences made from wasted tires which can be used repeatedly, and a rooftop of vegetation, which lasts longer than conventional roofs, reduces energy costs with natural insulation, and absorbs storm water, potentially lessening the need for complex and expensive drainage systems.

According to the Taipei City Government, the Green House is part of its Garden City Project, an initiative that aims to make Taipei City a greener and more attractive place.

"Communities, schools, business districts, traditional markets, and commercial buildings are five targets on our reform list. We welcome volunteers to be green ambassadors for us," said a press release from Taipei City Government's 2010 Expo team.

"The Floral House serves as a model for people who long for a greener lifestyle."

The aforementioned targets are encouraged to apply for the reform plan at http://www.2010.org.tw.

Taipei City Government plans to implement the Garden City Project first in the city's Zhongshan, Datong and Shilin districts, then expand it to other areas as well.

A few examples can already be seen in the city, including the entrance of an underpass at the intersection of Zhongshan North Road and Zhongxiao Road, the walls of Zhongshan Market and the Y13 exit of Taipei City Mall MRT station.

Keep your eyes open next time you are in those areas.


Written by Eva Tang  / culture.tw

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