Biophilic concepts such as living walls have entered the mainstream of commercial design. As people increasingly understand the importance of earth-inspired living, the demand for these types of features has steadily increased.
But these features are meant to be admired from afar, appreciated for their natural beauty, right? How would they survive in high-traffic public spaces?
At Dig This Design, we are passionate about connecting readers with insights and thought leadership that can help them solve some of the most complicated architectural challenges. Figuring out how to implement living walls into busy airports, educational facilities, and hotel lobbies is no exception. Keep reading as we break down the do’s and the don’ts for designing vertical gardens in high-traffic areas.
What Is the Goal for the Living Wall?
Living walls have moved past the realm of aesthetics. They offer a diverse range of benefits for a public space.
At the forefront is the biophilic design movement. Architects use features such as vertical gardens, bamboo siding, and stone accent beams to help occupants feel more connected to nature. This yields a bevy of health and wellness benefits.
Acoustics are also a premium advantage of living walls. The growing medium (soil, hydroponics) is fantastic for absorbing sound energy. The variable surface shape of leaves and stems diffuses sound waves to reduce echo. It all adds up to a more tranquil interior environment for bustling, mixed-use spaces.
They are also wonderful branding. With greenwashing running rampant in our society, living walls are tangible proof of a company’s commitment to environmental responsibility. It can help the business stay ahead of increasingly stringent ESG standards.
Any combination (or more) of these priorities will go a long way toward shaping the design and implementation of living walls in a commercial structure.
Where Will a Living Wall Have the Biggest Impact?
Once the underlying goal is established, it is all about positioning the wall for optimal impact. Maybe noise mitigation is the top priority, making it worthwhile to install a living wall near sound proof windows to most effectively craft tranquil spaces. Perhaps aesthetics remain the top line item. In this case, consider adding the living wall behind reception desks or opposite entry doors. Finally, use scale to your advantage. Small sections woven into prevailing wall patterns will likely be viewed as decorative accents. On the other hand, large, uninterrupted living walls will feel like an immersive experience for optimal biophilic impact.
What Will Enhance a Living Wall’s Durability?
Living wall or otherwise, durability is a top concern in high-traffic buildings. How can the structure thrive amid the heavy foot and machine traffic it will inevitably experience? Durability takes a little extra consideration for living walls. Errant hands not only mar surface-level aesthetics–they can also threaten the plants’ ability to photosynthesize.
With this in mind, there are a few best practices for ensuring that living walls don’t get unnecessarily jostled:
- Avoid narrow circulation paths in which people may be likely to brush up against the wall
- Use tough, dense plant species at the base of walls
- Keep the lowest planting zone above hand level in ultra-busy areas
It is also worthwhile to include more overt architectural safeguards in areas highly susceptible to physical abuse. Recess the wall slightly to create a subtle stand-off distance. Use integrated, transparent commercial railing systems around base zones. Strategically light the space to draw attention upward and away from areas more likely to be touched.
Which Types of Plants to Choose?
For most types of plants, bustling interior spaces are far from the ideal growing environment. No matter how stunning the specimen, it will be of little utility if it withers at the smallest caress.
Therefore, it is crucial to choose plant species known for resiliency. Innovative moss wall panels are known for thriving on low water and inconsistent light. Dracena has a tough leaf structure that resists tearing. Aspidistra is famous for handling temperature fluctuations. It is a strong choice in buildings that need to pump a lot of A/C.
Another important consideration: look for slow-growing plants (echeveria, sedum). These species will maintain their form for longer without having to be rigorously maintained.
What to Do About Irrigation and Drainage?
Irrigation is not just a plant issue for living walls. It can be a liability issue. If not implemented appropriately, it can undermine the foundation and framing of the entire structure. When building a living wall, choose a closed-loop irrigation system with filtration. Have a system of redundant leak detection and automatic shut-off. Ensure even moisture distribution to avoid oversaturation and dry pockets.
On the drainage side, integrated trays and concealed piping are paramount for maintaining aesthetics. Keep all adjacent flooring, walls, insulation, and electrical systems in mind when installing drainage. In facilities such as hospitals and airports, ensure that irrigation and drainage can be regularly inspected and serviced without shutting down operations.
More Than Decor: Living Walls As Architectural Systems in High-Traffic Buildings
Living walls have transformed significantly in recent years. Now more than decor, they play a multi-faceted role in a building’s architectural gameplan. When designing for high-traffic commercial areas like airports and hotel lobbies, use the best practices listed above to help your living wall thrive amid the chaos.
For more of the latest trends in contemporary architecture, explore the content at Dig This Design for ideas and inspiration today!
About the Author: Patricia Davis Brown
