Why Green Walls Get a Bad Rap
Urbanstrong Studio- BK Navy Yard
Now that New York City is waking back up, the team at Urbanstrong has been more social than ever. We’ve been delivering in-person CEU presentations, speaking at conferences, and trying out our best “dad” jokes at networking events around town. I can’t tell you how fantastic it is to be back mingling with our respected colleagues and leaders in the green building industry.
However, it was recently brought to my attention that some architects and designers feel that Green Walls “don’t work’’ or they are difficult to incorporate. This was devastating to say the least but inspired this blog post with the hope to bring clarity to the situation.
So I have listed a few key points and guidelines that come par for the course for the average Green Wall technology.
Mitsubishi Headquarters- Urbanstrong
Selecting the Appropriate System
Biophilic Design in the form of living plant walls and preserved moss walls are growing in popularity and for good reason! However, growing demand can bring saturation to the marketplace, and like any product, you’ll find there are tiers of quality, features, and capabilities. I would encourage designers to base their decision not just on the initial price tag, but rather on system longevity, plant replacement rates, water and energy consumption, and ongoing maintenance costs for the client. There are a range of technologies on the market, everything from a mounted pot/rack system to highly engineered modular panel systems. To take a deeper dive into this topic, please click here for a breakdown of living wall systems best suited for all scales and space parameters.
Coordination w/ Architects & MEP teams
The living plant wall systems suited for medium to large-scale projects (>70 sf ), will require a cold water line and therefore a drainage path. Coordination with not only the architects but the engineers, contractors, and plumbers on the project is crucial and as early as possible! If a direct connection is not available, a recirculating irrigation option can be designed but with a sizable tank. Tank size should be sourced according to the size of the Living Wall. If an irrigation solution of any design is not possible, I would advise our Moss Walls that do not require water due to their preservation state.
Lighting Plan
Light is one of two main needs plants have, so it’s important that the minimum lighting levels are met across every square inch of vegetation. Even if the living wall is located in a space with floor-to-ceiling windows, and large skylights, or appears well-lit to the human eye; supplemental lighting most likely will still be required. Otherwise, small leaves will sprout and species will get leggy which will lead to increased plant replacement rates and a displeasing aesthetic. Every living wall designer has different comfort zones but on average, minimum lighting levels can range from 90-150 FC.
Ongoing Maintenance
Even with our patented and highly engineered Living Wall technology, ongoing maintenance is imperative. This is not necessarily for plant replacements but for trimming/pruning/deadheading to keep the wall look well-manicured and healthy 24/7/365. Removal of yellowing/browning leaves will support new healthy growth. Leaf cleaning via the removal of dust particles will help support photosynthesis at optimal levels. The frequency of maintenance visits depends on the living wall system specified. Early coordination and selecting a more sophisticated technology will ultimately reduce the number of plant replacements, resources, and therefore maintenance costs. On average, maintenance programs associated with sophisticated system designs are structured monthly. However, some of the more pedestrian living wall systems call for visits weekly or bi-weekly. It is important to note that our preserved Moss Wall systems call for ZERO maintenance.
Here at Urbanstrong, we consider ourselves technology agnostic. Meaning, only after careful assessment do we select the appropriate system. Our team is compromised of engineers, designers, horticulturists, and project managers with over a decade of Green Wall experience. Our combined expertise allows us to offer white glove service to our clients and partners, no matter their budget or space parameters.
If your project is considering a Living Wall, drop us a line!
