Who invented the green wall?

A contemporary living wall made using the Mini-Garden modular system

According to Erin Tharp's article on the landscapearchitects network, the very first green wall dates back to 1938.  That's when Professor Stanley Hart-White of the University of Illanois Urbana-Champaign patented his "Vegetative-Bearing Architectonic Structure and System"  Phew, I wouldn't want to pronounce that after a few glasses of elderberry champagne.

I rather think that green walls had been used in various forms before 1938 and that perhaps Prof Hart-White was the first to patent a system.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon.  An ancient green wall?

The modern day pioneer of green walling without a doubt has to be Pierre Blanc.  After much experimentation, Peirre has discovered a way of growing plants on a vertical surface. Rather than using climbers or trained trees, Pierre plants into a system of wire frames and geotextile membranes. Clever irrigation combines with hydroponics to keep the plants happy and healthy.  In this way, Pierre has designed and created some incredibly eyecatching green walls.

A green wall not only looks good, it helps to cool the building - and the area around it.  It provides wildlife habitat and it changes the appearance of a neighbourhood for the better.  I've not seen any research on it yet, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if a green wall could also reduce antisocial behaviour.

A living wall in Paris

Pierre Blanc has fuelled our imaginations but living walls do not need to be as big, sophisticated or expensive as this.

A simple modular system can be used to create a small living wall either indoors - say for growing herbs in a kitchen - or outdoors.

I like the look of this relatively inexpensive system from Mini-Garden and hope to be trialling it very soon.

This system was invented in Portugal.  It's original purpose was for growing strawberries in polytunnels.  But it has been beautifully adapted to suit gardeners, allotmenteers and green-wallers in any situation.

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Green faces in austere places

Facade greening, aka living walls, green walls or vertical gardening, are enjoying a return to glory. Good news indeed for those of us who revel in the beauty, diversity and usefulness of living plants.

In the early 20th century, it was fashionable to try to join architecture with nature by covering a house with climbing plants. Virginia creeper was a favourite, as were wisteria, ivy and good old Russian vine.  As with most things in the world of architecture,design and fashion, tastes changed over time.

The use of climbing plants declined during the 1930's and another trend took its place. But the all-new 21st century interest in green walls has been backed up by scientific research.

The good news is, green walls are good for the planet.

A green wall has plenty of good points

Cooling a building. By shading walls from the sun, green walls stop a building heating in the first place.

Winter insulation. Evergreen climbers act like a blanket. They keep wind-chill to a minimum and they trap warm air against the wall.

Trapping dust and pollution, improving air quality, particularly in urban areas.

Benefiting wildlife.  This is a particular favourite of mine.  I have recently taken up the craft of beekeeping and can't wait to spread some home made honey on my toast.  I'm lucky in that I live in the countryside so "my" honeybees can feed on hedgerow plants, oilseed rape, tree blossom and garden flowers. even so, I suspect that come the autumn, they'll have a much smaller choice of feedstuff.
Ivy is a really beneficial food for honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees because it flowers when all othe sources of pollen and nectar have dried up.
In my own garden, I'm on a mission to take better care of the ivy growing on the boundary walls. Sadly, a green facade on my own home is never going to happen.  It's a traditional flint wall that my husband feels is just too pretty to cover up.

Noise barrier I have a privet hedge between the pub next door and my front garden.  A hedge is a kind of living wall I suppose and it is very effective at absorbing sound.  Especially on disco nights.
I would imagine that in urban areas, green walls can help create a peaceful oasis. Blocking out the noise of traffic, trains and hurleyburley

I'm no architect and I'm certainly not a designer but I do know what I like.

I like plants.

Green wall in Guildford, Surrey.

But I only like plants when they're in good health and they're doing no harm. Just like a green roof, a green facade should be carefully planned so as not to damage the building. It should also use plants that will be happy with their growing conditions.

Now there are some buildings that ought to be hidden from view. Practical, functional and perfectly good structures that do nothing to enhance the area they're in. Those are the buildings that could do with a green facade.

There are some buildings that are too beautiful to hide....these should never be completely smothered in leaves...but maybe they could have roses round the door or a wonderfully designed garden with lots of plants, or even a balcony garden, some window boxes or a hanging basket or two. For surely every creation deserves to be adorned by plants.

There are also beautiful buildings that become even lovelier with the addition of a carefully designed green facade.

The difference between 21st century greened facades and those from an earlier era lies in modern technology.

I love that climbing plants and trained trees are no longer the only options.  Pioneering work done by the likes of Patrick Blanc means that plants can be encouraged to root into structures that are attached to the wall.

In Patrick's case, ferns, herbs,grasses and flowering plants are rooted into geotextiles that are attached to the wall. They look amazing! However, some of the benefits are offset by the need for frequent watering.

Other pioneers have developed systems using pockets, troughs, containers, sophisticated computer controlled irrigation, hydroponics and a whole lot more. There are indoor systems, outdoor systems, commercial systems for growing soft fruit, food walls, herb walls, sensory walls, big ones, small ones, attached ones, freestanding ones.

No doubt each one has it's pros and cons. But at least they're developing an appreciation of plants. And that my friend is why I like green walls.