The benefits of being surrounded by plants and nature are more appreciated now than ever before. For anyone lucky enough to have a garden, no matter how big or small, creating a connection between the indoors and the outdoors is a way of celebrating nature. For interior design having cut flowers and potted plants distributed around different rooms is another way of introducing nature into the home. A Living Wall is nowadays also a popular design option to make the very most of a small garden, or to create a living feature indoors. Also known as a Garden Wall it consists of a panel of plants that can be grown vertically using an irrigation system, or hydroponics, that can be constructed indoors or outdoors. The following article provides step by step guide on how to build a vertical garden.
Credits: Greenarea
The Living Wall Structure
One of the great advantages of the living wall is that it doesn’t require much floor or ground space. Because the visual impact is made in the vertical sense ideally there should be enough space to appreciate or view the living wall. The starting point is the support structure. To build a living wall frame a free standing or an existing structure can be used. Timber or metal are popular choices, the critical element is to create a series of shelves or pockets and include an irrigation or hydroponic system to keep the plants watered and healthy. Having a water feed is also critical which is important in terms of planning how and where to build a living wall indoors or outdoors.
Credits: gallery_interior_sev
Indoors or Outdoors
The typical ivy covered external facade of older buildings is probably the original example of the garden wall. But the living wall can be constructed just as easily indoors as outdoors. The most important element when planning on how to build a living wall indoors is the selection of plants. Just like cultivating any indoor plants the same basic elements are required, water and sunlight. For the indoors more tropical varieties of plants will perform better, this is because we usually maintain a more even temperature indoors and, in order for a plant to thrive being located close to a window or glass is important.
Credits: Greenarea
Garden Walls for outdoors
The selection of plants for an outdoor living wall depends on the local climate conditions. As a general rule whatever plants thrive in a normal garden will thrive in a garden wall. Plants that have a greater tolerance to diverse weather conditions are the ideal choice and will do better. A living wall should be lush with vegetation so plant varieties that keep their leaves all year around will also provide better results.
Simple mistakes to avoid
First and foremost whether indoors or outdoors when thinking about how to build a green wall access to sunlight is critical, so orientation is important to get right. Don’t build in the shade. Second, a proper irrigation system is required, there are numerous products on the market to choose from nowadays. And thirdly make sure that the run-off water is either collected or recycled, in order to avoid problems with damp.
The Benefits of the Living Wall
The range of benefits associated with having a living wall include better air quality, better noise and thermal insulation and a visually attractive feature for the garden or for the indoors. A living work of art, so to speak. If provided indoors in an area such as the kitchen for example the plant varieties can include garden herbs that can be used for cooking.
Credits: Greenarea
Greenarea is a company specialized in connect nature and design, creating creative, innovative and sustainable green solutions that improve the quality of life and well-being. PORCELANOSA Group has worked with their solutions in several showrooms.
