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Vertical Gardens... taking green to a whole new level

Here's a completely novel and stunningly beautiful take on interior/exterior landscaping/decorating... The vertical Garden

French Scientist, Patrick Blanc has developed a successful company around the idea of transforming interior and exterior walls into green space. He utilizes an impressive array of plant species, from climbing tropical vines, to cold-loving northern mosses.

For more information go to: http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/

Posted by Alex Mordas - Green Building Consultant on 05/06/2008 08:57 PM

Comments (35)

vertical garden, green, landscaping, interior design

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35 Comments on Vertical Gardens... taking green to a whole new level

MAY

2008

Alex Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Beautiful and responsible living! I love it! Too bad plants in my home are basically walking the plank.

MAY

2008

Wow, this is awesome I would love see some of these here in San Diego!!

Hi Anthony,

You're welcome... I read about this and just had to share. Such a great business idea, and potentially a really radical way to improve our urban environment. Green roofs watch out. Green walls are here!

Hi Bridget,

Thanks for the comment. ...I'm surprised that I have not yet heard of many of these popping up in the states - especially California.

I haven't seen anything like this before. Very interesting. I wonder if it would work here in New Hampshire with all the cold and snow.

MAY

2008

Alex~

THIS is fascinating! Please, oh PLEASE add a link to this post in the !!!!GREEN NEWS!!! Section at the top of the Eco-All-Stars Group home page...I am going to pass this INFO on to a few of my architect buddies!

That is so awesome! I wonder thought what kind of upkeep it requires, and how much of a mess it leaves.

JaneAnne,

I just added it a little earlier today. Thanks for the invite!

Tiffany,

From what I understand the upkeep and mess are minimal... but I guess it would be dependent on the plant species that are being used. Thanks for the comment!

MAY

2008

Alex,

That is something to be looked into. Supposedly there is quite a bit you can do in the interior with plants which can completely transform the flavor of a house. Or any building. Good idea.

MAY

2008

Alex - Aren't these awesome! I found a planter in a catalog that can be mounted on a wall, and it has a way of keeping the dirt in and the water flows down through it - not to expensive and I really want to try it out! I think this guy's work is amazing! Garden Design magazine did a layout last fall and it was beautiful... My vision is to buy an office building for our company and have the front entrance covered with a planted wall! Great blog! Thanks for getting this option out there --

JUN

2008

Green vines and those clinging to buildings look cute. However, I expect that with the passage of time, those will damage the exterior and skin of the buildings.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

JUL

2008

This is so cool! i just love it because it adds texture and such vibrant color to an interior or exterior. Oh yeah and the air should be cleaner too with all of those plants. I will be looking for projects like this in Austin. Thanks!

Betina

JUL

2008

Looks awesome. I imagine that type of planting would do well here in Vancouver, Washington.

mark hall vancouver wa real estate www.ernw.org

JUL

2008

Hi Alex! These are sweet! I've seen Live Walls before and think it is a great idea!

Hi Esko,

It definitely adds a whole new dimension to the interior of the building. Not only making it more attractive, but adding to the comfort level with humidity control and air purification. As soon as I get my office building up, I am going to be incorporating these ideas into the interior decor!

Hi Eva,

You've gotta do it now you said it! It would be awesome to have a project like this going up in Tallahassee! ..great for business! I look forward to the blog about Tallahassee's first green wall!

Hey Harrison,

I think that damage, if any, would be very minimal. It may actually be that these green walls could add protective coverage to the walls! I'm sure you have seen many an old building that has had vines growing up it for 300-400 years and has not really been damaged by their presence. But definitely somthing to consider before any amateur practice of this design style is begun.

Hi Betina,

Plesae tell me if you do see any in Austin. I try to keep up with developments in your town a little as it is such a similar town to Tallahassee - just a little further along with its progressive community and green building!

Hi Mark,

I'm sure it would. Vancouver is such a beautiful place... it would fit nicely!

Hey Mary,

Where have you seen them?

JUL

2008

Insurance companies regularly report that water damage comprises their number one claim group. So one has to be careful when using water in and around a building.

Concerning the 300-400 year old building with vines growing, if you were to remove the vines, you would, indeed, find a lot of damage. Some landscapers at the Ivy League schools think that the vines are the only thing holding the buildings together. Of course, I also think they made things better 300-400 years ago than we do today. Today it's about making as much as possible in as little time as possible as inexpensively as possible. Or we put work out for competitive bidding and take the lowest bid. Huh? We're going to build a bridge that is supposed to survive a 10.0 earthquake and we take the lowest bid? Hmmmmmmm. Leaves one room to pause, but that's the way the system works. I like to pretend that I'm an Olympic Judge when I get bids, throwing out the high bid and the low bid and taking the middle one.

The vertical garden has taken moisture damage into account. In fact, he even discusses moisture damage in the detailed presentation. As with anything that grows, the mess and maintenance will be individualized to the plant and one's meticulousness in taking care of it.

Hi Russel,

Thanks for the thoughtful comment. You are definitely right in that water damage is a serious problem for buildings. And you are also right in your comment that the vertical garden website discusses the issue of water damage in the detailed presentation. His system appears to provide adequate protection against water damage - and like I said, would probably end up providing protection against the elements. That said, I'm no expert in the matter, and I would not recommend any installation of these vertical gardens without consulting with the right professionals prior to the installation.

The difference between the old buildings with vines and this new design style, is that with vertical gardens the plants and their roots (and the water) do not actually touch the wall. They are removed by a metal frame with PVC backing and a felt mat to hold the roots and the nutrient-rich water.

I read through his list of buildings using the Vertical Wall. Most of them are in France and England, but there is one in Los Angeles. I'll have to make a point to eat there the next time I go to L.A.

I also sent him an email asking for additional information. I'm wondering if he sells the materials so that I could do a small wall in my home, or if one is limited to large projects.

This is fascinating information. I'm glad you all addressed the water issues. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

Russel,

You have got to let me know what you think about the LA wall, and/or if you get one in your home..! That would be awesome! Please send a photo..!?

Diane,

Thanks and you're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!

Hey, Alex.

He had one listed in North Carolina, too. Might not be that far from you in Tallahassee.

Thanks Russel!

I'm going to have to go back and check out the locations... maybe I'll get to see that one sometime. I head up and down between NY and Florida fairly often.

AUG

2008

Really cool, thanks for sharing! www.tracysoussi.com

SEP

2008

Wow, cool pics! I would love that in my home. I could imagine it having a very natural clean smell in the home with all of the greenery. Houston is starting to get the concept of green living. Hope it stays around for awhile.

That's wild! Bring the tropics inside in a cold climate.

SEP

2008

That is really cool. When I clicked on this post I was expecting someting about vertical container gardening, which is also really cool, but not quite the same! Anyone try to grow veggies on a wall like this? LOL.

SEP

2008

I just found this and I love it. I think that as long as the plants are not actually growing on the wall itself there should not be any damage. A home inspector told one of my buyers who loved the ivy growing up the front wall of the house she was buying that so far it had not done any damage and that if she really wanted to keep it she should pull it all off the walls and put up a trellis in front of the wall and make sure that it only grew on the trellis so the roots stay off the wall.

I would imagine that the principle is much like that of a vegetated roof.

SEP

2008

Alex, this is so beautiful!!! I imagine the inside air quality is better too. Thanks for sharing.

DEC

www.a-green.cn

Alex~

Now you have me thinking about creative GREEN for 2009...Maybe we should make "creative GREEN for 2009" the Eco-All-Stars January Challenge, eh?

Happy New Year =)

That vertical garden is beautiful! It reminds me of some of the vegetation I saw on a trip to Antigua, Guatemala! It was nice to see green, since I am sitting here in Akron, Ohio watching it snow, snow, and snow some more!

Alex:

One word AWESOME. How cool would it be if every building followed Patrick Blanc's lead?

JAN

These gardens are absolutely beautiful! Great post.

FEB

Reminds me of Wrigley Field in Chicago ! I think vertical gardens is a cool way to get extra green space where horizontal space is non-existent ! Keepin' it Green !

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