Green Walls: The Essential Guide

We take a closer look at Green Walls with key examples from green wall company Cultiwall. Green walls are becoming increasingly popular in modern architecture and landscape architecture. .Green walls — from the simplest ones built from climbers to the most exquisite and technologically advanced — are known for their aesthetic value, creation of ecosystems, and positive influence on a building’s heat efficiency. They also have a profound positive impact on air quality, especially in regard to humidity and dust content, both indoors and outdoors. There are many different types and systems of green walls, from the very simple to the increasingly technologically advanced. The simplest green wall usually consists of some sort of durable, lightweight support structure and climbers, growing up from the substrate at the base of the wall. Sometimes, the structure can support small containers of plants such as epiphyts, ferns, and small climbers. This way, the effect of undivided greenery is achieved faster and is varied. However, this type of green wall usually comes with its own problems — issues with the effective irrigation of plants and the visibility of the not-so-decorative planters.

Green Walls from Cultiwall

This is where the most sophisticated of green walls could be the solution. These are the walls that come closest to the idea of growing plants directly on vertical surfaces. One of the simplest and most effective systems currently on the market is produced by Cultiwall, part of the Saint Gobain Corp. Usually, green wall systems are based on strong construction, attached to the wall in a stable manner, and support the plant elements, which vary greatly depending on the manufacturer. Sometimes, it is simply a durable material formed into pockets.

More advanced green walls, such as those made by Cultiwall, are based on the construction of steel installation beams and modular panels with plants. The beams are required to be screwed tightly to the wall, while the panels are mounted on them without any additional screws. More Articles With Green Walls:

• The World’s Tallest Living Green Wall
• Going Vertical: The History of Green Walls
• 5 Amazing Facts About Green Walls That You Didn’t Know

The pockets or panels are filled with suitable substrate, which may be organic or — better still — mineral. For example, the panels of the Cultiwall system are filled with very light and durable mineral wool. The repetitiveness of the pattern and the modularity make the whole construction incredibly easy and fast to install, yet very stable and flexible in terms of design.

How to choose the right plant material for a green wall The plants for the green wall must be chosen with great care. The selection has to be made with the particular location in mind. The light conditions, temperature, humidity, and future maintenance must all be carefully considered. The designer might opt to place the species in more natural disarray or opt for sophisticated patterns. All the plants should require similar conditions and none of them should be too fast-growing to avoid have one species monopolize the whole wall. Taking Care of Irrigation The irrigation system is essential for the well-being of the plants. In the most advanced systems, it is an integral part of the green wall. The plants require the right amount of water as well as fertilizer. That is why Cultiwall comes equipped with an irrigation system, complete with sensors measuring the humidity and the temperature in the wool and in the air. The water can be directed outside or it can be collected and reused as appropriate.

The Rise in Popularity for Green Walls

Green walls are gaining in popularity. The numerous examples of the newest installations include one of the largest interior walls in Europe by Cultiwall, which has just been installed in Wrocław Zoo. The benefits of green walls can hardly be overlooked or overestimated. Their beauty and their positive influence in biodiversity and microclimate are certain to make them a major feature in our cities into the foreseeable future. The simplicity of the installation, the durability, the lightness, and the flexibility, combined with the prestige of the Saint Gobain company and the experience and knowledge of the Cultiwall engineers, make this system a definite number one for all landscape architects. Cultiwall Cultiwall is a part of a global enterprise – Saint Gobain. The Cultiwall green wall system is a flagship product of the highest quality, installed in many prestigious locations all over the world. You can download Cultiwall’s brochure by clicking here! Recommended reading:

• Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls by Nigel Dunnett
• Gardening Vertically: 24 Ideas for Creating Your Own Green Walls by Noémie Vialard

Article by Marta Ratajszczak Return to Homepage

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