A Living Wall Covers This Construction Site Instead of Ugly Scaffolding

By Heather Callaghan, Editor

Meet the living wall – a new site for sore eyes that is raising questions of both “why?” and “why didn’t we do this sooner?”

Lest we think that living walls are only the realized fantasies of eco-fascists or corporate green-washers – let’s take a look at how this works, shall we!

Arup architecture teamed up with the company that made the Living Wall to study the effects of the green curtain.

Fastcoexist reports:

The Living Wall is made by Green Fortune, a Swedish company that specializes in covering vertical surfaces with plants. The Grosvenor wall covers 860 square feet, and is made up of grasses, strawberries, and flowers. Not only does it look a million times better than a scaffolded building, the carpet of greenery may actually improve its surroundings. Arup [architecture firm] says that noise pollution from the construction site it cloaks could be reduced by 10 decibels, and the plants could also clean the air.

[Photos: Arup]

[Photos: Arup]

Reducing the noise levels – even if only by 10 decibels – is certainly a feat when it comes to all the outdoor construction projects that affect the workers, passersby and local businesses.

However, there are actually other benefits to living walls:

• Can grow edibles
• And leave something for the birds
• Oxygen
• Cleanse air, reduce air pollution
• Aesthetics
• Serenity-inducing
• Can you think of any more?

Of course, this greenery isn’t really health-inspired. It’s part of Arup’s  initiative to reduce more carbon emissions by 2030. There’s a possibility that cities could require them for future projects, however, which may burden businesses with an added cost. Arup does take interest in delving into the research behind the benefits, though, and is keeping track of temperature, noise and pollution with sensors.

Fastcoexist reports some of the criticisms:

U.S. site Construction Dive takes the pessimistic view, pointing out the problems of extra weight, and of not being able to pass things through the greenery to the construction workers inside.

The U.S. uses open scaffolding, whereas in Europe scaffolding is sealed off somehow like with nets. The idea is that a living wall would be helpful in Europe but poses a safety hazard in the U.S. due to things falling out of the curtain.

Still – what do you think of the concept of edible, living walls (voluntarily done, of course)?

Comment and share!

This article (A Living Wall Covers This Construction Site Instead of Ugly Scaffolding) can be republished with attribution to Heather Callaghan, source article and Natural Blaze.com, keeping all links and bio intact. 

Heather Callaghan is an independent researcher, writer, speaker and food freedom activist. She is the Editor and co-founder of NaturalBlaze.

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