Living Green Walls 101: Their Benefits and How They’re Made
Living green walls may have gotten their start 80 years ago, but they’ve recently become some of the most striking and important eco-friendly features in buildings across the world.
The Origins
Known by several names including green walls, living walls, or vertical gardens, these architectural elements can be found on exteriors or interiors of buildings, and can range in size from just a few square feet to entire walls in atrium spaces. They were first developed by Stanley Hart White, a professor of landscape architecture at the University of Illinois, in 1938; he created a patent for his "vegetation-bearing architectonic structure and system," but the invention didn’t really take off.
It is all very mindful. "We proceeded with a philosophy and a vision," says Chamberlin. "All of us understood that the poetry of what you look at is very important."
Photo: Christopher Wahl
The Rise of the Vertical Garden
Fast forward about seven or eight decades, and living walls are some of the most popular, vibrant ways to incorporate plants and greenery indoors and out, often in aesthetically pleasing ways. A green wall is essentially a wall, or part of a wall, that is covered with greenery growing in soil or another type of substrate. Most living walls also incorporate an integrated water delivery system because the classic method of watering plants with a watering can or hose isn’t efficient for vertical walls.
Plant Wall Design created a custom, self-sustaining vertical green wall for the show.
Courtesy of Plant Wall Design
When used on the exterior of buildings, vertical gardens are most frequently found in cities, where the plants act as an additional layer of insulation and help reduce the overall temperatures of the building from solar radiation or prevent warm air from leaving the building. Some research has also shown that living walls may help purify gray water, or gently used water from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines.
A group of Woolly Pocket planters can be put up in an afternoon. Each planter's hook requires one screw to hang.
Courtesy of Woolly Pocket
When vertical gardens are used on the interiors of buildings, they can help improve air quality not only because plants naturally remove carbon dioxide and produce oxygen-rich air, but also because plants can filter the air around them by absorbing and cleaning pollutants. When they’re used inside, living green walls frequently act as a three-dimensional, living piece of artwork, providing an aesthetic component as well as a health element.
Inside, a large planting feature designed by Michael Hellgreen of Vertical Garden Design clads the kitchen block. "The idea behind the vertical garden was to bring a natural element to the space, since the overall look was very minimal," architect Duarte Caldas says.
Francisco Nogueira
Shop the Look
The Sill Preserved Mini Living Wall, 12" x 12"
This zero maintenance miniature 'living wall' will liven-up any interior space. A combination of moss and ferns preserved in their prime, there is no upkeep necessary – simply hang and enjoy. Hanging hardware included. These are real plants that have been naturally preserved. They are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. The frame is reclaimed wood. Each piece is handcrafted and unique – natural variations will occur. There might be a slight odor upon unpacking your living wall, but it will subside in about 3 weeks. Keep it out of direct light and never water. Your living wall will measure 12" wide by 12" tall. *Living walls ship within 2-3 weeks of your order - signature is required for delivery! Photo Courtesy of The Sill
ShopClick & Grow Wall Farm
The Click & Grow Wall Farm is an indoor vertical garden that grows fresh herbs, fruits and leafy greens all year round and hyper-locally. Our innovative technology makes indoor gardening a breeze. Our products will help your plants grow faster and more nutritious - all without pesticides, plant hormones, or any other harmful substances. Thanks to our unique Smart Soil technology our vertical gardens can easily be integrated into every home, restaurant, school, grocery store, or office. Our Wall Farms come with a full set of plant capsules. You get a choice between 4 kits specifically selected by our gardening team to help you get started with your indoor garden: SALAD KIT: 18 lettuce, 9 chili pepper, 9 red basil, 9 tomato, 9 chives capsulesHERB KIT: 9 lettuce, 9 leaf mustard, 9 parsley, 9 thai basil, 9 oregano, 9 bloody sorrel capsules FLOWER KIT: 18 busy lizzie, 18 petunia, 9 cornflower, 9 lavender capsules TEA KIT: 18 wild strawberry, 18 peppermint, 9 lemon balm, 9 garden sage capsules Additionally, a monthly subscription of two 9-packs for $51.90 is automatically added to your Wall Farm purchase. Our subscription system is the easiest way to keep your farm fully stocked with new plants: you simply have to log in to our member’s area to modify your plant choices, delivery schedule, payment details or even cancel the subscription. Photo Courtesy of Click & Grow
ShopThe Sill Preserved Large Living Wall, 40" x 18"
This zero maintenance large 'living wall' will liven-up any interior space. A combination of moss and ferns preserved in their prime, there is no upkeep necessary – simply hang and enjoy. Hanging hardware included. These are real plants that have been naturally preserved. They are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. The frame is reclaimed wood. Each piece is handcrafted and unique – natural variations will occur. There might be a slight odor upon unpacking your living wall, but it will subside in about 3 weeks. Keep it out of direct light and never water. Your living wall will measure 40" wide by 18" tall. *Living walls ship within 2-3 weeks of your order - signature is required for delivery! Photo Courtesy of The Sill
ShopHow to Plant a Living Wall
Living walls are typically constructed similar to green roofs, where modular panels hold the growing medium that can be either loose soil, mat media, or structural media.
A variety of drought-tolerant plants cascade down a 10-foot-wide vertical garden wall near the entrance to the property.
Photo: Matthew Williams
In order to create a living wall with loose media, loose soil is poured onto a shelf or into a bag, which is then attached to the wall. While these systems can be straightforward to install, the media must be replaced at least once a year for exterior installations and every two years for interior uses because wind and rain can drain or blow away the soil. Because of this, loose media systems are probably best for small-scale living walls or home gardeners.
Overall, the plant wall covers over 1,200 square feet of surface area.
Francisco Nogueira
Mat media systems are usually composed of thin-coir fiber or felt mats of multiple layers which are best for interior use and with smaller plants. Because the mats, despite their layers, are not very sturdy, they cannot support larger plants with thicker, longer roots that could potentially rip the mats and compromise their integrity. Although these mat systems are easy to install, the thinness of the mat makes them unable to hold much water, and therefore they aren’t very water-efficient. However, for smaller installations with smaller plants, they can be a great solution.
To raise awareness about biodiversity in cities and the benefits it delivers, the EEA façade, overlooking one of the most prominent squares of Copenhagen, Denmark, gets shielded with a vertical garden (shaped like a map of the European continent!) which uses a mesh pattern, similar to a cross-stich pattern, that fills in dirt and various flowers. Via WalkOnWaterOrDrown.
Via WalkOnWaterOrDrown
For sheet media systems, the living wall is made of an egg crate-type of pattern on a plastic sheet that can be used for both outdoor roof gardens and vertical walls. Because of the added depth and texture of the sheet media systems, they are able to hold significantly more water than the mat media system, and can last up to 20 years because the plastic isn’t biodegradable.
Blanc took the term "living room" to a different level with this striking 20-by-23-foot interior wall for the Dimanche family's home in Paris.
Courtesy of Jessica Antola
Finally, living green walls that use structural media employ a type of block of soil or growing media that can vary in size, shape, and thickness. Because of the flexibility in the dimensions and shapes of the blocks, the media can be specifically designed to accommodate certain types of plants that require thicker or thinner media. Another advantage to structural media living walls are their long life—they can last up to 10 to 15 years before needing to be replaced or repaired.
London's Athenaeum Hotel near Hyde Park features a side living wall designed by well, you guessed it, Patrick Blanc. (Pin).
Courtesy of Patrick Blanc
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