Permeable pavements are a type of urban ground covering that manages stormwater. Most designs feature small channels through which rainwater permeates, filtering down into lower layers that prevent water from pooling on the surface, such as pebbles, stones, and surrounding soil. Others rely on more random arrangements, as you will see below.
Some permeable pavements have high albedo, reducing the urban heat island effect. Reflective surfaces return a percentage of incoming solar radiation into space, improving local climatic conditions. Moreover, research shows these pavements can also sequester pollution from surface run-off, preventing it from flowing into nearby water bodies where it could harm.
However, permeable pavements offer more than mere function. Designers also make them aesthetic.
Permeable Pavement Aesthetics
Urban environments can sometimes feel hostile and unwelcoming. Monolithic concrete buildings and asphalt streets are often eyesores affecting community well-being.
Traditional pavement aesthetics deal with this by laying bricks or paving slabs in pleasing arrangements. Careful design can make the urban environment feel friendlier.
However, many formats don’t incorporate permeability essential for managing stormwater and reducing pollution.
Aesthetic permeable pavements attempt to improve on this by providing urban environments with the best of both worlds, offering visual enhancements and stormwater management. Various types exist but require careful installation. Furthermore, some are more aesthetic than others.
Permeable concrete is a mixture of washed gravel, fly ash, and Portland cement. It has a pebble-like appearance, with permeable segments arranged haphazardly, depending on the random arrangement of individual particles in the material.
Permeable asphalt is another option similar to regular asphalt paving. Contractors make it by mixing coarse and fine stone grades with a bituminous binder. Water passes through pores on the surface.
Plastic reinforcement grid pavers are flexible plastic units that let water pass through holes in between. These can be permanent or temporary and usually have a layer of top grass above them to improve aesthetics.
Permeable concrete interlocking pavers are another option. These have a tile-like appearance with holes in between, allowing water to flow down into the containment material below.
Finally, concrete grid pavers have a similar crisscross appearance. Again, rainwater can permeate through the gaps in the pavers into the sand, gravel or soil bedding below.
Striking A Balance Between Aesthetics And Environmental Responsibility
No permeable paving solution can provide perfect aesthetics and environmental protection. However, some designs are significantly better than others.
If you are planning on installing permeable pavers, you will need to consider:
- The color
- Pattern and texture options
- Integrated greenery
Various color choices exist, depending on the material you use. Concrete pavers will generally appear gray, while asphalt will be dark gray, verging on black. Brick pavers provide more color options, as do more expensive paving slabs. Generally, the environmental implications of the color you choose relate solely to your choice of material. Concrete requires significant energy and is responsible for an estimated 4 to 8 percent of global CO2 emissions, while plastic introduces issues concerning waste disposal and biodegradability.
Pattern and texture options also require a balance. Irregular patterns may be superior for permeability and capturing pollution, but they might not be as pleasing to the eye as some of the more structured and deliberate options.
Finally, integrating vegetation can be an excellent way to improve the appearance of permeable pavers. However, it only works for designs able to support topsoil or grass growing through gaps. Again, plastic pavements excel here, whereas asphalt ones perform less well.
Done correctly, adding vegetation to pavements can be an excellent way to enhance the aesthetics of urban spaces. A grass lawn or verge that doubles as a flood management tool can improve the appearance of communities and make neighborhoods more desirable.
If you are planning on integrating permeable pavers in an area, it is essential to adopt an interdisciplinary approach. Collaborating with professionals from diverse fields, such as landscape architects and stormwater contractors, can improve the environmental impact of installations. Leveraging their combined expertise can increase the sustainability and innovation embodied in pavement solutions.
Let Muller, Inc. Help You Find the Right Balance
Balancing aesthetics and environmental responsibility is essential for permeable paving installations. Both objectives are critical for a healthy urban environment and planet. Therefore, choose sustainable pavement choices that satisfy these criteria with community involvement. Contact Muller, Inc. today via their website to learn more about the construction, maintenance, and inspection of permeable pavement.