They purify the air, cool temperatures and are space-efficient. No wonder more homeowners are taking green walls indoors!
Living Room
A green wall can also help improve the quality of indoor air. Veera, who is trained in botany, says: “plants attract dust particles through their stomata, and particular species break down toxins such as ammonia and formaldehyde – chemicals found in many household cleaning products.”
Unlike its name, green walls don’t just come in that colour. you can inject vibrant pops of yellow, orange and red into your green wall with autumn ferns, begonias and gesneriads.
Most of us have seen green walls adorning external spaces, but what about green walls within the home, such as in the living room or foyer? The idea is catching on here, and not simply because green walls are a pleasant visual feature. “Green wall systems can help homeowners maximise their vertical space, while freeing 108 up horizontal space for other uses,” says Veera Sekaran, founder and managing director of urban greenery company Greenology. “A small green wall of 1m by 2m can hold up to 60 plants – a number nigh impossible to have on the floor of a regular-sized balcony.”
Over the next few pages, we take a look at how green walls can be incorporated into the various spaces of your home.
Design David Brenner / Installation Habitat Horticulture / Photo Garry Belinsky
Dining Area
Love the idea of outdoor dining but don’t have a patio or balcony? Create an alfresco atmosphere by adding a green wall next to the dining area.
Foyer
The entrance is a nice spot to have a green wall, so that you are greeted by luscious greens every time you come home. For this dwelling in Ghim Moh Link, landscape consultant firm Vertical Green installed a preserved moss wall onto the metal door of the bomb shelter.
Column
Have an eyesore of a column in your residence? Beautify the obstruction by turning it into a habitat for plants.
Balcony
If your balcony receives long hours of strong sunlight, installing a green wall can help to bring down ambient temperatures and cool the home.
Air Well
A green wall converts a plain air well into the focal point of the home.
Inner Perimeter
Run a green wall along the inner perimeter of the house to bring nature closer to your living space.
Pool
Green walls can be used to form a privacy screen around your swimming pool.
Q&A
THE IDEA OF A GREEN WALL WOULD NO DOUBT APPEAL TO THOSE OF US WHO LOVE PLANTS. WE PICK THE BRAINS OF TWO EXPERTS TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN ACQUIRE THE GREEN WALL OF OUR DREAMS.
David Brenner, founding principal and managing director of Habitat Horticulture
(He has designed green walls for residences and commercial spaces all over California, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Anya Hindmarch’s flagship store in Los Angeles.)
Where is an ideal place to have a green wall?
A living or green wall has the most impact on spaces that you can really sit in and enjoy, especially when it covers an existing concrete or blank wall. Some of the most dramatic transformations are in light wells or basements.
How does one design an aesthetically pleasing green wall?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the client is the beholder in this case, so the client’s preference is the first thing I take into account. For any garden, matching various textures, colours, leaf forms and growth patterns helps to create interest. I strive for something that will look good not just on Day One, but remains so as it reaches a mature stage.
Veera Sekaran, founder of Greenology
(He has installed green walls notably in Changi Airport Terminals 1 & 2, and created the greenscape in Apple Store Orchard.)
How does the irrigation system work behind your green walls?
Most green walls are integrated with automated irrigation and dosing systems to deliver nutrient solution. The auto-irrigation system usually requires a water inlet or garden tap, which is fitted with a timer and a fertigation unit so that water and nutrients can be fed to the green wall at specific timings in the day. Greenology’s system uses approximately 0.8 to 1 litres of water per square metre of green wall, considered one of the most water-efficient in the world.
How does one choose the different species of plants for a green wall?
To reduce plant mortality, one should choose the right species of plant that can thrive in the site conditions.
The homeowner’s preference will also play a part in the composition. For example, I am a big fan of ferns because they add volume and a jungle vibe, but others may prefer a neater look. For those who want a green wall with a high ecological value that will attract pollinating creatures, I suggest flowering species such as the lantanas and Tabernaemontanas.
Those with young children can consider adding the pitcher plant into their green walls to spark curiosity and learning opportunities.
text ISABELLE TOW
