Living Walls

The Living Wall System is a light weight, soil based method which is ideal for creating low maintenance and sustainable vertical gardens over existing or new surfaces. This system can be used for interior or exterior application.

Ideal for suspending over existing exterior surfaces and cladding as well as new surfaces.

  • Pre-cast concrete panels
  • Brick walls
  • Metal surfaces
  • Other wall claddings

Components of System and Materials

The system uses a UV resistant, outer fabric, 3 pocket garden as a medium for holding plants. The plants are planted into the unique, removable felt pocket in soil. The plants, in their felt pockets, are placed into the outer Hanging Garden pockets.

The Living Walls are suspended on 316 marine grade, stainless steel rods and rigging wires, and are secured to the building structure with 316 marine grade fixtures and fittings.

Standard Sizes and Configurations

Our Living Wall System can be made to fit almost any size and the configuration is tailored to fit the design requirements.

  • Height : Any height above 400 mm
  • Width: Any width above 300 mm
  • Depth: When planted – approx 180 mm
  • Drip Tray – to client requirements (Recommended depth 350mm)

Weight / m2 : Approximately 35 kg per m2 when planted with standard potting mix and saturated.

Installation Details

Living Walls are pre-assembled, without plants, ready for rapid suspension and securing to the vertical surface. All plants are delivered to site pre-planted in their felt pockets. Installation of the plants is in accordance with a Planting Plan. The automatic irrigation is pre-assembled and requires a standard connection to a mains water supply.

For interior walls, the design will take into account any waterproofing requirements.

Site measurement is generally undertaken prior to manufacture.  Any wall penetration and fixing detail is designed according to substrate, building design and engineering requirements.

Accessories

Accessories for each solution could include the following:-

  • Drip Trays – to client requirements
  • Flashing – to clients requirements – any colour, size
  • Rainwater collection from the roof
  • Slim-line water storage tanks, pumps and inline filters

All stainless steel is certified 316. The material of outer bag is guaranteed in harsh UV light for 15 years.

Plants

We work with a wide range of high quality plant suppliers around New Zealand and locally sourced, sustainable, New Zealand native plants as well as exotic plants, indoor plants and edible plants can be provided for specific requirements:-

  • Interior plants for low, medium and good light situations
  • Exterior plants for North, South, East or West facing sites as well as for high wind, coastal environments.

All plants are pre-planted into their felt pockets and delivered to site ready to be placed into the Hanging Gardens.

Irrigation

The irrigation systems are designed for the site and environment and can be connected to a rainwater collection system and/or main supply.

A typical installation will use :-

  • a 20mm tap with mains water pressure of  between 2-5 bar
  • a battery or electrical controller with single or multiple zones
  • 19 mm vertical feeder pipes and 13 mm horizontal feeder pipes
  • pressure compensating drippers or spray irrigation
  • Rainwater collection and storage

Drip feeding is water conserving and delivers low operating costs, easy maintenance and water management benefits.

Maintenance

As our gardens are soil based and not hydroponic, they require very little maintenance and this delivers low operating costs.

Typically for exterior NZ native gardens, the recommended plant maintenance is bi-annual.

For internal gardens, the maintenance will be dependent upon environmental conditions but monthly maintenance is recommended for ensuring the garden remains in a beautiful condition.

Living Wall – Interior

Interior Application

The Living Wall system is ideal for covering existing or new interior walls where a waterproofed surface is possible. The waterproofed wall can be a 19 mm ply-board coated with a butynol lining and a drip tray should be provided at the base to catch any water run-off. Additional drainage is not required.

For walls above 3 m, consideration must be given to providing plant maintenance access.

If you would like a brochure on our Living Wall System or would like to see our specification in MasterSpec, please see our Resources Page?