The New Way to Experience Nature - ebook

transcript

www. symbiotikwalls.com

Green Wall, Living Wall, Vertical Garden

Green walls and their applications are becoming the latest trend, however they are still viewed as something of a novelty and the naming can seem confusing.

There is a wide variety of terms, such as green wall, green facade, living wall, and vertical garden used to refer to any vertical space covered with plants.

There is, though, one important difference to be aware of: green facades involve plants with active climbing habits that are rooted in the ground or cascading groundcovers whereas green walls have media for plants to grow in that is actually part of the vertical surface. The plants in green facades can take up to 5 years to achieve a full coverage.

Self-clinging plants like English Ivy have commonly been used to create green walls; however, these aggressive plants can damage walls and create difficulties in times of maintenance and plant removal.

History of Green Walls or

Living Walls

The idea of living walls purportedly dates to around 600 BCE and the hanging gardens of Babylon. Later, from Japan to Scandinavia, many civilizations used climbing plants to cover buildings, making what is called today green facades. However, to focus in modern times, Patrick Blanc, a French botanist, is noted as the modern innovator of green walls, known as Le Mur Vegetal in French. His first work was made at the Museum of Science and Industry in Paris in

1986. Since then, he has done hundreds of breathtaking green walls all over the world.

With a full hydroponic system involving growing plants in an inert medium instead of planting them on soil, and providing them with all nutrients they need through a liquid solution. The structure is composed of three parts: a metal frame, a PVC layer and a layer of felt. The metal frame is hung on a wall or can be self-standing. It provides an air layer acting as a very efficient thermic and phonic isolation system.

A PVC panel is riveted to the metal frame. This layer brings rigidity to the whole structure and makes it waterproof. This felt is rot-proof and its high capillarity allow a homogeneous water distribution. The roots grow on this felt in pockets. The density is about thirty plants per square meter.

Our proprietary system, Paisajismo Urbano, originally derived from Patrick Blanc’s system, combines botanical expertise based on the principles of natural selection with a sophisticated irrigation system that completely controls not only the natural chemical conditions but also the mechanical system itself. Our patented system allows us to create not just vertical gardens but vertical ecosystems.

There are multiple control probes and even a GSM advisor integrated into the system, which ensures a successful, durable, low-maintenance vertical ecosystem.

With a focus on sustainability, we have one of the highest plant survival rate in this type of environment. We take great pride in our work and provide regular maintenance to keep our green walls as healthy and beautiful as the planting day.

Benefits Interior and exterior green walls offer a number

of incredible benefits.

Aesthetic & Mood Green Walls as Living Art Green walls are works of art. The visual effects of a green wall are breathtaking and there are few things as aesthetically pleasing as plants. Green walls give us a way to transform building faces of concrete into peaceful oasis in urban spaces.

This is one benefit that is nearly impossible to measure which may be an indication of its significance.

Art improves the human experience. Green walls look amazing and they boost creativity. Vegetation at the workplace improves performance and reduces stress.

Building Protection and Maintenance

Sunlight, rain, and extreme temperatures lead to the expansion

and contraction of building materials. This results in cracks,

fractures and deterioration overall.

Green walls are capable of protecting exterior walls from these

environmental damages. This translates to fewer time consuming

and costly maintenance projects overall.

Improved Air Quality

Green Walls Bring Fresh Air Green walls are natural air filters; they remove particulate (dust

and pollen) and toxins (CO and formaldehyde) from the air and

produce oxygen.

When an exterior green wall is integrated properly during the design process of a structure, it can also function as a bio filter for the air inside.

Energy Saving Though the effects of a green wall on cooling and heating costs will vary with the location, position, climate and the type of installation, green walls can do a lot to improve energy efficiency. It cools interior spaces, reducing the need for continuous air conditioning. The green wall acts as an additional layer of insulation, trapping air and serving as a buffer against winds.

Noise Level Reduction

Green walls act as a sound-proofing barrier, reducing overall noise levels

The leaves of plants attenuate sound by reflecting, refracting and absorbing acoustic energy in small amounts.

The amount of noise reduction is proportional to the number of plants that are present in a specific space. Green walls contain such a large number of plants that the acoustics of a room can be substantially improved.

Urban Agriculture Sustainability

The introduction of vertical gardening techniques significantly increases available space for growing food in urban environments.

More Benefits increase property values Improved company image - Act as a

bold statement about your priorities or your company’s

improve productivity (Applies to indoor green wall installations)

help buildings/builders/owners to earn LEED credits and benefit from the associated government incentives

Applications Residential - Making Home Homey Symbiotik Walls expert team can execute the most awe-inspiring vertical habitats on any upward surface practically anywhere in your home. Whether you live in the middle of a busy downtown apartment or in the suburbs of water limited cities, Symbiotik Walls can design, develop and install the right green wall for you. From a wide assortment of plant types, textures, sizes and colors we generate unique shapes and patterns that beautifully compliment your existing living quarters, creating a harmonious and more enjoyable environment.

Commercial

Making Greens on Green Hotels, restaurants, office buildings, factories, stores and many other commercial structures can benefit from having one form or another of our spectacular green walls in their premises. From lobby grounds to office walls, from factory exteriors to department stores interiors, Symbiotik Walls always works diligently with its clients to find the best and most creative solution for the space at hand.

In addition to being living works of art, Symbiotik Walls vertical gardens are also money saving structures. Thanks to their heat isolating properties, our green walls can save commercial clients thousands of dollars a year in energy costs.

Also, since vertical habitats can reduce noise and stress, they contribute to increased workers performance which in turn translates into better business productivity.

Government /Private Institutions The Natural law of the Land From buildings to parks, including transportation structures like airports, subways, highways and more, government structures can greatly benefit from including green walls within their grounds. A Symbiotik Walls vertical garden can not only enhance the appearance of any government building but can also help alleviate structural damages and deterioration, like “sick building syndrome”, at a comparatively low cost.

Inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor and/or outdoor sources as well as biological contaminants can cause sick building syndrome. This is true especially in very old constructions where the heat, ventilation and air conditioning systems cannot be properly updated without incurring major structural changes and astronomical expenses.

Thanks to their intrinsic air purifying characteristics and low-maintenance advantages, Symbiotik Walls vertical gardens are the sensible choice for enhancing and complimenting any government remodeling or construction project.

The Installation Process Wall Raising Finding the proper balance between function and design is one of the key challenges the Symbiotik Walls team faces with any vertical garden project.

Depending on where the vertical green habitat is going to be installed, we measure its exposure to natural sunlight, factoring not only the duration but also the angle of such exposure. If the vertical garden will be hosted inside, artificial light will be planned within the design.

Easy Implementation for any Installation

Match Making

Due to the unique nature of each vertical landscape, the first factor

to consider is the composition of plants that can work in each specific

environment, taking into account factors like local and micro climate,

sun exposure and surrounding context.

Each variaty of plant create a different enviroment. We work

together with our Customers to suit and create de ambiance they

wants.

We create sensations with each desing. We can recreate since a

tropical experience to a relaxing and calm room. Romantic, Sporty,

You name it.

Body Building

Next, a supporting structure that can be adapted to any geometry is

designed and assembled with PVC boards and a multilayered, highly

absorbent felt surface on top. There is a necessary air gap between

the board and the actual wall to ensure double protection against

moisture. Once the soilless construction is finished, it is ready to host

and hold all the preselected living greens for years to come.

Mouth Watering The irrigation system is the key element of the entire project. Our

systems are designed to minimize water consumption. These are

closed water circuits that automatically control the nutrient injection

and irrigation cycles. Water is captured at the bottom of the wall

and it is successfully drained out. At no point water does escape to

floors or surrounding walls.

A special mixture of nutrients and PH balanced water flows down the

synthetic media where the plants reside. The plants absorb this

mixture through their roots which are intertwined with one another.

These timed irrigation cycles give the plants everything they need to

flourish into a thriving ecosystem.

Green Walls around the World

Residential

Private Client Sunny Isles, Florida By Gray over Green

Apartment in Paris By Patrick Blanc

The Richmond House in Melbourne, Australia By Morris Partnership

Villa in Lisbon, Portugal

By Proap

Commercial

The Replay Store in Barcelona

by Vertical Garden Design

Padrino's Restaurant at Downtown Hotel in Mexico City By Verde Vertical

158 Cecil Street in Singapore By Tierra Design

Qantas Sydney First Lounge By Patrick Blanc

Quai Branly Museum in Paris By Patrick Blanc

Offices in Vancouver By Green Over Gray

Butterfly Dance, National Theater in Taipei By Patrick Blanc

Government Pont Max Juvenal, Aix en Provence in France By Patrick Blanc

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pensilvania By Ambius

The beauty of the System

allow to use a lot of

variety of plants, with

different colors, shapes

and style.

Oasis of Aboukir in Paris By Patrick Blanc

Vertical Gardens Allow You to let your mind just Dream, making your thoughts in real projects to enhance Your daily life.

For more information or to inquire about installing a Symbiotik Walls

vertical garden on your premises please fill out the following form or

you can contact us on:

P.0. Box 546264

Surfside, Florida 33154

Tel: 305.494.5450

Carolina Ujueta

Green Wall Consultant

www.symbiotikwalls.com

The New Way to Experience Nature - ebook

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