Living Walls

Living walls have been around for thousands of years. Ferns, vines, shrubs and trees naturally take hold and grow in the crevices and pockets of cliffs and waterfalls. They are frequently found growing between the mortar of brick and stone walls. The ancient Gardens of Babylon featured green walls. And more recently living walls have become popular design elements in the built environment, bringing live plants to urban areas, both inside and out. The benefits abound, not only for the people who live and work in and around these buildings, but for the environment as well.

This white paper presents a summary of the following:

•   The research being done on living walls
•   The requirements and design features for successful plantings
•   The best practices for designing, building and maintaining these systems
•   The health, well-being and biophilic benefits
•   General costs of the systems
•   And the positive effects of living walls on the environment.This paper will also present the differences present in various green walls systems and how those systems are appropriate for differing needs.