Planting vertically has been trendy for a while now. Decorating a wall with foliage, especially in an urban setting where there may be fewer opportunities to plant on a large scale, is attractive and interesting.Patrick Blanc's site has some beautiful examples of this trend. He has pioneered the vertical garden in France, and his work is quite impressive.
Here is a spa in Silverlake that embraced the idea about a year ago.
I'm all for planting in a new ways and in previously unexplored spaces. I like the effect of a living, breathing building, and I think it's quite striking. It instantaneously sends an "environmental" message, as if we could re-green the whole world, shunning blacktop, and covering every hard surface with oxygen-giving life!!
But I do think there are issues that make going vertical in this way potentially problematic. I wonder how long the planting medium, which relies on sheets of felt, will last. When the felt breaks down, is it easy to replace? Are there concerns surrounding the constant presence of water so close to a structure? Is mildew a problem? As these issues are explored, I'm sure the technology will improve and grow. Something to watch.
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