A living green wall is an installation or architectural element where plants and greenery cover part or all of a wall. They can be indoors or outdoors, and range from smaller designs the size of a piece of wall art to multi-story creations.
You might have seen stunning examples of these in big department stores, art museums, airports, trendy new builds and other luxury buildings lately. That’s because living green walls are starting to be more recognized for their benefits, both to the look and feel as well as effects like better air quality.
But while they may be trending now, living green walls have been around for decades. And they’re not out of reach for anyone right here in Pittsburgh. As experts with 50+ years of experience pioneering commercial plantscaping, let us take you through the basics of living wall designs and how they can work for you.
Living Green Wall Designs
Living green walls combine architecture, interior design, art and décor, and also health and wellbeing. That means they can be a ready addition to many commercial spaces.
But they are also a specialty element that often involve live plants, which means they should be carefully designed and tailored to your space and your needs. If you are considering adding a living green wall indoors, here are some of our expert design tips.
Living green wall designs for offices
In offices, plant designs should be focused on breaking up wall space, offering visual interest and giving energy to workers. Plant selection should be varied and play with texture and shade to add interest, while working with the light and space available.
Living green walls can act as dividers between areas in an office, or add small accents throughout office space. Remember, you don’t need one big wall to make a difference. Conference rooms are another great place for green living walls, as they impress clients and also help dampen sound.
Living green wall designs for reception
Green walls can transform receptions whether in commercial lobbies, a corporate headquarters, a hotel, or another business space.
Designs for a reception area should consider how to use a living wall to direct people’s attention and invite them in. You should also consider placing living walls so people in a seating area can view them, as plants can capture people’s interest and lower stress, making waiting times more pleasant.
Remember that living green walls can be broken up to provide more interest, and can add continuity across your design, including stretching into hallways or other communal areas as people pass beyond reception.
Living green wall designs for cafeterias, restaurants and cafés
Plant walls in restaurants and cafeterias bring ambience and charm. Designs should be tailored to give visual interest while enhancing customer experience. Living plant wall designs for restaurants can improve open seating-area features like pillars or other dividers that are built into a space. They can help make your layout feel more intentional, and are an attractive option to replace or break up wall art.
They can also add the romance and drama of plants with less frequent maintenance. Unlike cut flowers, which need constant attention and frequent replacement, living green walls offer a lasting botanical feature that’s professionally maintained with minimal effort from you.
Benefits of Indoor Living Plant Walls
Aside from aesthetic benefits, indoor living plant walls and biophilic design more generally can offer significant benefits to your space. These include:
- Better air quality, and lower CO2, as published in Building and Environment
- Productivity, in a World Green Building Council study
- Stress response reduction, in a study by Harvard researchers
- Improved indoor acoustics, in an Architectural Science Review study
- Boosted wellbeing, as in a study of office plants by Exeter University
Having done many living green wall designs, we have seen changes firsthand with our clients and their spaces. Whether we’ve brought live plants into an eatery or created a showstopping reception backdrop, we know that the effects plant walls can have make them worth the investment.
Professional Living Green Wall Creations
Living green walls have a high potential for being a poor investment if done wrong, and need proper maintenance to ensure plants are thriving. There’s also the design element to consider, which can be more nuanced than other design decisions if using living plants, as the environment can affect what will work best.
As plantscaping professionals, our creation process for living green walls is carefully constructed to give our clients stunning pieces that are done right, every time:
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- Step 1 – Consultation: We meet and discuss your space, budget, décor and the effects you want to create with plants.
- Step 2 – Design: We craft a custom design to meet your needs, including plant selection. We are experienced in crafting everything from small accent touches to large showstopping interior green walls.
- Step 3 – Build and Installation: At Plantscape, our professionals are experts in fitting living wall systems. We primarily build with a tray system that includes tank irrigation, but can discuss other options for projects as well.
- Step 4 – Maintenance: We also offer maintenance programs for continual care.
Simply put, for the best investment and results when it comes to green walls, you should consider using professionals.
Read more about how Plantscape creates living green walls.
FAQ for Living Green Walls
Q: What is the difference between a green wall and a living wall?
A: A green wall is an umbrella term that includes many types of vertical greenery systems, such as living walls, moss walls, and artificial foliage walls. The key difference is that a living wall is made of real, rooted plants that grow and thrive with proper care and maintenance, while an artificial green wall uses faux foliage or preserved moss to create the look of greenery with very little upkeep. Because there are many systems and design options available, it is best to consult with an expert to determine which solution will work best for your space.
Q: How long do living walls last?
A: With the proper maintenance and care, living green walls can last many years. Upkeep includes ensuring that irrigation or watering is consistent, pruning and replacing plants, and pest control.
Q: How much does a living wall cost?
A: Living wall project costs can range considerably, from $ for a small indoor installation to $$$$ for large-scale commercial projects that require architectural planning. Costs for a living wall include design, materials, plants, installation and depending on the system, irrigation.
Q: Do living walls create problems with mold or water damage?
A: No, a properly installed and maintained living green wall will not typically cause water damage or mold. However, DIY options may cause problems for those without experience, which is why professional installation is a good investment.
To schedule a consultation or learn more about Plantscape’s living wall installations, contact us today.
