Green walls are a great way to take any office design to the next level. These immaculate creations date back to many decades ago, in spite of some people feeling like they might just be part of a modern design fad. If you’re keen to explore a green wall in your office space, there are three different types to be able to choose from. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s first chat about what a green wall is, before delving into the various options out there for you and the team to collectively explore.
What is a Green Wall?
In a nutshell, a green wall is a vertically built structure that has been covered by different plants and other vegetation. The idea is to create something beautiful and professional, especially when it comes to office spaces (like balconies, terraces and entrances) that are primarily used for socialisation. Green walls can be basic or complex, depending on the time and financial investment you’re looking to make. From basic water basins to integrated hydration solutions, the opportunities to create something practical to match a specific design are truly endless.
Freestanding Green Wall Systems
Freestanding walls are the first type to consider, notable for being smaller and more mobile than their counterparts. These are common in both indoor and outdoor settings, and can even be placed in the middle of a room. These kinds of green walls are great for co-working spaces, or offices that are being rented with short lease terms. Some companies go as far as to use freestanding green walls as partitions, especially when various departments are stuck in the same open plan setting. Freestanding walls can be just as intricate as the other two types, albeit that they should always remain light and mobile wherever possible.
Green Wall Tray Systems
Tray systems are used to create green walls containing plants that have been grown and pruned off-site, and planted into a wall to give the desired design effect. These can be very flexible, especially as different plants can be moved, removed and replaced with minimal effort. Tray systems are more affordable than the other types of green walls, although they are more prominently featured indoors in modern office settings. They should be checked regularly to make sure they match company health codes. This is mostly because tray systems prevent water from spilling forward, which is ideal when there is an expensive carpet to contend with.
Panel or Modular Green Wall Systems
Panel or modular green wall systems feature plants that have been pre-grown into various panels that are more often than not used outdoors. Overall, these require the least amount of setup, and the various panels create an immediate visual impact as a result of the fact that they feature fully flourishing plants right off the bat. The idea is to cultivate various plants for up to two months before the so-called “installation” date, which should give the team enough time to come to a general consensus about design, maintenance and how everyone is going to get involved to ensure the green wall flourishes in the coming months.