Recently, in the confines of malls like SM and Glorietta, and SM Grass Residences, I've noted how the smell of garbage and sewer remove all the illusion of "green-ness" despite the antiseptic smells of corridors and illusion of white walls.
The stench of rotting food and other wastes assault shoppers inside malls, if not the sewers like the condo towers. While EDSA has improved a lot since, catching up with Bangkok and Hong Kong with its greens on its railroad, greening of buildings remain like masks, only for face value, and no quality yet.
There should be more plants inside buildings not only to absorb those nasty smells but provide true quality in these luxurious spaces. I mean, it would definitely beat those hotels.
Incidentally, a study about Hong Kong suggests how much should city spaces invest in plants and trees for every density of residents or human users. The study suggested that an urban area should have approximately 33% vegetation cover (preferably trees, and green roofs are quite ineffective) to achieve a 1 °C cooler urban area. This is to effectively provide quality spaces - that relax and actually supply oxygen to the brain. We have been told of the importance of oxygen but its production, despite its close relations to climate change, is still undermined.
A simulation study, however, found a funny outcome- roadside vegetation reduce dillution of traffic pollutants! Must be the air-speed/spread model that brought the computer-generated findings, but I find this one flawed... Nearby areas must not be polluted anymore because vegetation is already absorbing the pollutants? Just a guess based on long-term observation and experience.
China, on the other hand, is massively catching up if not trying to recuperate from its failed environment protection with the Forest City project. We can only hope this starts a global trend to bring back green in human lives, even in green's nemesis - urban centers.
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