[Greenbuilding] living wall

[Steve]

the Cambie Whole Foods Market in Vancouver (510 West 8th Avenue) has
an excellent green wall system; it uses plastic trays that hold square
bags of soil with holes cut for the plant stems, and metal braces to
hold the bags in place. The system has drip irrigation and as of the
last time I saw it (November), appeared to be thriving. I don't know
the manufacturer of the system but it's the best external system I've
seen, and based on it's simplicity should be cheaper than ELT and
GSky, and far more robust than the Woolly Pockets. It looked similar
to the Tournesol product, but that wasn't it.

One of the first living wall systems I ever saw was when I was back in
school, at U of Guelph's Humber campus.. Alan Darlington of Natureaire
(now Nedlaw) built a 4 storey living wall in the atrium, and we got to
watch the wall constructed and then maintained over the following
year. I considered doing my co-op placement at Natureaire, and
indicated my interest during one time I spoke with Dr. Darlington, but
shortly after I signed the lease on an apartment in Toronto and they
were in Guelph so it didn't work out. Overall a fascinating system,
but very high maintenance.

For indoor green walls, I'm a big fan of the Patrick Blanc style
system.. simple and very effective. I don't know if I'd try to put one
outside though... it can be done, but they don't always fare so well,
especially in a harsh climate. Might work here in Victoria BC though.

-Steve
-- 
http://www.greengeek.ca