Permeable Walls: Friendly Ways to Define Boundaries

Learn with Andrea Conde about how permeable walls can transform the way we inhabit and relate to our surroundings, inviting us to imagine more open and human cities, in the article: Permeable Walls: Friendly Ways to Define Boundaries.

In various cities, uncontrolled urban growth—especially in the outskirts—has become an increasingly common issue, and the ways in which territories and homes are delineated are more significant than they may seem. Today, fences, walls, and boundary enclosures can serve as design elements that foster communication, integration, and sustainability, rather than reinforcing separation and isolation within a community.

Boundary walls can serve as design elements that foster communication, integration, and sustainability, instead of reinforcing separation and isolation within a community.

Ejemplo de barda delimitadora permeable / Example of permeable boundary
Fotografía / Photography: Pexels

Among the most environmentally friendly alternatives are bamboo or bahareque walls with gaps, which allow air circulation and natural light to pass through while maintaining a sense of protection. Similarly, lattice walls (whether made of wood, concrete, or recycled materials) offer an aesthetic and functional option to create permeable boundaries that preserve the visual connection between interior and exterior spaces. In the same way, within Maya architecture we find the albarradas, which are small stone walls built by stacking rocks to mark the boundaries of plots.

Muro de bambú / Bamboo wall
Fotografía / Photography: Canva

On the other hand, living fences, composed of vegetative walls, may be the most direct and ecological solution. They not only define a boundary but also contribute to biodiversity, reduce dust, dampen noise, and help cool the urban environment.

A great example of this approach can be found in the Oval Gardens of Naerum, Denmark. Designed by Carl Theodor Sørensen, this residential complex combines private gardens with urban orchards within an organic and open layout, where boundaries are defined by vegetation and topography rather than walls. The result is an environment that fosters community interaction and a direct relationship with nature.

Vista de cerca viva en Naerum / View of living fence in Naerum
Fotografía / Photography: Google maps

For me, observation has always been a powerful tool. Over the years, I’ve noticed that we tend to raise our walls higher and higher—both on façades and around our properties. In particular, in the neighborhood where I live, I’ve observed that the more “modern” a house is, the higher its walls tend to be.

In many traditional or older neighborhoods of Mérida, Yucatán, wrought-iron fences —permeable and lightweight— are part of the everyday landscape. These structures allow dialogue with neighbors and reveal terraces and gardens, integrating the private with the communal. They also reflect the identity of each neighborhood, as ironwork is a craft rich in history, showcasing railings with different shapes and patterns. However, in newer residential areas, it is common to find taller and more enclosed walls, gradually losing interaction with the surrounding community and the life that happens on the street.

Izquierda: Residencia con bardas permeables de herrería, Derecha: Misma residencia remodelada con bardas altas no permeables /
Left: Residence with permeable wrought-iron fences, Right: Same residence remodeled with tall, non-permeable walls
Fotografía / Photography: Andrea Conde

Rethinking our walls is no small gesture: it’s an opportunity to reconnect with our surroundings and our community. Permeable fences, in their many forms, invite us to imagine a more open, safe, and sustainable city, where boundaries are not barriers but living transitions.