QLD

Greenwall Project

Greenwalls or living walls are seeing a surge in popularity world-wide. With the current environmental focus on offsetting carbon emissions, landscaping the vertical plane increases the reduction of CO2 and acts as a giant, natural air purifier.  The calming benefits and the aesthetics of plants used in a Greenwall are also notable. Like art hanging on a wall, the plants used in Greenwalls are highly visible. The multitude of variables such as irrigation, plant performance and weather requires some experimentation prior to core landscaping decisions being made.

Marsupial erected a prototype Greenwall at Caboolture at the end of 2009. Under the guidance of project manager Steve Simmons, a wall made up of 6 panels measuring 3.5m high and 4.5m wide has been placed on an east-west axis, one side facing due north, the other due south.

The horticultural expertise of staff from a reputable nursery has been relied on to select various epiphytic and vertically growing plants for each of the panels. Based on their performance in the prototype over the next 12–18 months, they will be culled or included in the future Greenwalls that Marsupial installs. Plants such as Bromeliads, Peperomia and Tradescantia are being experimented with at this stage. Their habit and growing speed is being monitored, as is their tolerance of exposure to light levels from both northerly and southerly aspects.

Each panel contains a different growing media. Various combinations of Diatomite, foam and a lightweight, organic potting mix are being trialed. The media is enclosed inside steel cages with filter fabric holding the growing media in place. They are receiving regular, nutrient-rich water through a dripper system run by the nursery.

The self-sufficiency of the Greenwall will be maximized in the next stage, when a sump is installed to catch excess water from the irrigation system. The water is then recycled through a  sand filter then back to the wall, using a 12 volt pump run on solar power.

With the correct plant selection, very little maintenance will be required on site. The opportunity for ‘living’ signage within the future designs is being looked into, using different coloured foliage. The prototype is already creating a buzz amongst the landscape architects in the area and Marsupial plan to roll the experiment out in NSW. Lighter structural designs are also being trialed for use in indoor corporate and domestic situations.