It is then thanks to the botanical artist Patrick Blanc that starting from 2006 the use of the gardens vertical exploded worldwide. Blanc created the most famous green wall in Paris for the Musée du Quai Branly, launching a new sustainable architectural revolution.
Vertical gardens have become the latest design trend worldwide. Fortunately, I would say. They are no longer an exclusive interest of architectural studios in search of design awards, but also of businesses and private homes, who want to improve their sustainability and their environmental and aesthetic impact.
These particular solutions are able to literally bring the nature into urban environments where pollution and concrete are constantly increasing and where green is disappearing. Furthermore a well-made green wall can considerably improve the appearance of a building by adding color, movement and creativity, completely highlighting its aesthetics.
On each different varieties of plants are placed with different colors thus creating real flower meadows on the sides of buildings. Plants are chosen according to the climate zone in which the building is located as it is very essential to use the most suitable vegetation for the area where the vertical gardens will be created. By the way, it is the same principle that is used for the choice of plants in traditional gardens. This is the reason why experts are needed: they can advise and plan every single centimeter of a vertical garden. I have created many green walls all over the world and every time I studied all the details to design the best solutions.
However the benefits are not only aesthetic, vertical gardens protect the buildings from temperature fluctuations in summer and in winter by reducing fuel consumption. In addition they divert water away from the walls in case of rain and protect the premises from UV rays. Not only. The vegetation helps to decrease the high-frequency sounds, whereas the supporting structures, on which they are placed, can help decreasing the low-frequency noise.
Lastly we must not forget that green spaces are good for the mood of people, as I wrote some time ago in my article dedicated to therapeutic gardens. There is evidence that plants and flowers have an immediate positive impact on the individual and transmit well-being. If located in companies’ headquarters gardens and green walls can even boost job satisfaction and create a generally more pleasant working environment.
Marco Sandrini, Chief Landscape Designer at Sandrini Green Architecture
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