Have you entered our store through our new Pavilion recently? If so, you probably noticed one of two new living walls at Garden + Home. It’s an impressive vertical display of over a thousand little houseplants, arranged into a living work of art. We love plants and the benefits indoor plants bring, so of course, we’ve included them in a meaningful way as part of our recent renovations. We know you must be curious how plants can make a living on a vertical surface, so here we share a little about what makes these living walls possible – both at our store and throughout our community.
Living Art
As a member of our Interior Design team, Chris Logeman finds his passion in connecting people with the natural world – especially indoors where so many of us spend most of our time. And often that passion takes shape in the design, installation, and care of a living wall.
With over 1,100 plants included in its construction, the one in our Pavilion makes an impressive display. What you see in the finished arrangement is a combination of Chris’s eye for design, his extensive plant knowledge, and the work of over a dozen collaborators bringing the project to completion.
In addition to the living wall located in our Pavilion, our newly updated office space at Garden + Home also includes its own smaller design following a more wild approach with a different mix of tropical plants.
The Framework
Construction for such a detailed project begins with a plywood base followed by a moisture-blocking layer that protects the wall behind it. Once the wall is protected, Chris and his team begin installing long, horizontal trays that will hold all the individually potted plants and allow them to be watered from below. It’s a painstaking process because each tray must be perfectly level in order to distribute water evenly across the entire width of the living wall.
Next comes the plumbing and drip irrigation that brings water to the structure. Chris says that because the trays have drain holes allowing water to fall to the trays below, there’s an irrigation line feeding every eight vertical rows of plants.
When it comes to selecting the plants, Chris says that choosing plants that will thrive in the conditions of the given space is a critical component for the long-term success of any living wall. Finally, as the last piece of installation, each plant is added following the planned design – a process that’s a bit like completing a puzzle.
Maintenance
As we know, even one plant requires regular care to stay healthy and beautiful for a long time – and when the plants number over a thousand, maintenance is even more involved. In addition to water, Chris explains that a typical living wall requires weekly attention to make sure the plants stay healthy and strong. During each weekly check-up, the team takes a close look, pruning and cleaning where needed and scouting for the occasional pest that may show up. It’s a big job, but it’s enjoyable and meaningful work given the value and beauty each living wall brings to its environment and the people who enjoy it.
The Impact of Interior Plants
Each living wall installed throughout our community has a significant impact on the space where it lives. But this might be especially true of the 28-feet-tall living wall at the Audi car dealership near 180th and Dodge Streets. With more than 1,700 plants growing on both sides of its freestanding structure, it’s the focal point of the space. Repeating the same theme, a separate wall with over 300 plants can be found in the dealership’s barista bar as well. The project has even gained some exciting attention this year. Congratulations to Carlson West Povondra Architects and our Interior Landscape team on the 2020 Excellence in Design award from AIA Nebraska, recognizing this project – we’re so proud our team could be a part of it.
Bringing Plants to Our Community
Our Interior Landscape team has had the pleasure of designing, installing, and caring for living walls across our city. And with each project, it’s a joy to see the visions go from designs on paper to living structures that bring such enjoyment to our clients and the people who visit these spaces. We invite you to stop by our Pavilion to check out our own living wall, and we look forward to sharing more of these signature pieces throughout our community.
