What is a living wall?

Living Wall – Westgate Hotel, San Diego

Human beings have been growing plants on walls for centuries. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is a living wall: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Also known as green walls, vertical gardens, plant walls and edible walls, the modern version we know as a living wall today has become a mainstream feature of homes, offices, and public buildings. Living walls keep growing in popularity, limited only by human creativity.

A basic living wall is a plant such as ivy vines growing up the side of a building. A more complex living wall uses an engineered trellis system with plants rooted into a growing medium within the structure, but separate from the building. This system allows for more creative options. The most complex living walls systems include four elements: growing media, structural support, integrated irrigation and a drainage system.

Living walls can exist inside with the right lighting, or outside in almost any climate. They can be planted randomly or display intricate patterns. Living walls can use a recirculating irrigation system, drip irrigation and a drain, or be watered by hand.

What are the benefits of living walls?

Natural air filtration through bio-filtration walls
Removing of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Filtering toxic air particulates
Regulating temperature extremes by providing insulation
Conserving energy costs by reducing the need for heating and cooling
Creating biodiversity by providing natural habitat
Absorbing and filtering stormwater and greywater
Providing sound absorption and reducing interior noise pollution
Providing privacy and reducing stress in open office environments
Increasing workplace productivity and employee job satisfaction
Reducing employee turnover, saving overhead costs
Speeding healing in hospital settings; patients recover more quickly, and use less pain medication when a living wall is visible
Adding humidity to interior air, lowering heating and cooling costs