Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture

8 Dec 2006 Category: Architecture, Conscientious Design, Features, Top Page 10

Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture

Patrick Blanc lets plants grow on any vertical surface: Marché des Halles in Avignon.

Patrick Blanc overgrows the vertical surfaces of buildings in the most beautiful way. What he creates is far away from any fancy horticultural show, his Vertical Garden could rather be called eco-art, or greener architecture consisting of a variety of plants trailing gently up any interior or outside wall. Imagine the Hanging Gardens of ancient Babylon but this time on modern concrete buildings. But Patrick is not just simpy putting green on the walls which last for a day or two: set up with a highly scientific background he studies the many ways plants adapt to extreme situations at the CNRS, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris since 1982. Let’s have a closer look at these organic wallpapers of botanist Patrick Blanc today.

Written by Verena

Patrick Blanc at work: climbing a cliff in Venezuela.

Twelve years ago Patrick began designing eco conscious architecture for public spaces, department stores or private living rooms. He worked for museums in Paris, Istanbul, Madrid, Seoul or the 21st Century museum of contemporary art in Kanazawa. Besides covering shop interiors like Girbaud’s in Paris with moss and ferns he designed for companies like Samsung or the Hypo Vereinsbank. Next year he will enrich the surface of a skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur and the Doha Office Tower in Qatar with greener beauty. No wonder le Docteur was honoured with several prices like the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ or recently the gold medal of the Académie d’Architecture.

Amazing how Patrick grew this organic wallpaper inside a private home.

He even entered the transient realm of fashion and designed for French couturier Jean-Paul Gaultier. Patrick’s ‘Robe Végétale’ was a prestigious wedding dress for Gaultier’s fashion show in 2002 that tastefully stretched its ivory tendrils around the model’s outlines.

For French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier Patrick created a ‘Robe Végétale’.

Now Patrick, you already told me that you have been visiting tropical rainforest understories all over the world since your first trip to Thailand in 1972. Quite adventurous! How do you actually get to climb up and study the forest plants?

Those explorations were conducted by a Radeau de Cimes, that’s a canopy raft that can be put on forest trees - literally. It then provides an easy access to the plants in order to study them. This canopy raft is even dirigible.

And I thought the days of wild expeditions to unknown places were long over. Please tell me now your secret method: How do you actually glue these plants on the wall?

The Vertical Garden is composed of three parts: a metal frame, a PVC layer and 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 1cm thick PVC sheet is then riveted on the metal frame. This layer brings rigidity to the whole structure and makes it waterproof. After that comes a felt layer made of polyamide that is stapled on the PVC. This felt is corrosion-resistant and its high capillarity allows a homogeneous water distribution. The roots are now growing on this felt.

Watering is provided from the top with the tap water being supplemented with nutrients. The process of watering and fertilisation is automated. The whole weight of the ‘Vertical Garden’, including plants and metal frame, is lower than 30 kg per square meter. Thus the Vertical Garden can be implemented on any wall without any size or limitation of height.

Musée du Quai Branly in Paris

There’s no soil involved at all?

Plants don’t need soil in any situation because the soil is merely nothing more than a mechanic support. Only water and the many minerals dissolved in it are essential to plants, together with light and carbon dioxide to conduct photosynthesis. Wherever water is available all year long as in tropical forests or in temperate mountain forests, plants can grow on rocks, tree trunks, and slopes free-of-ground.

For instance in Malaysia, 2 500 out of the 8 000 known species are growing without any soil. Even in temperate climate zones many plants grow on cliffs, cave entrances or cracked up rocks. On these rather steep places many Berberis, Spiraea, and Cotoneaster species are able to grow. Their naturally curved branches indicate that they originated from natural steep biotopes and not from flat areas like the gardens where they are usually planted. So - it is possible for plants to grow on virtually any vertical surface nearly free-of-ground, as long as there is no permanent shortage of water.

How did you develop an elaborated device for watering the plants then?

Water delivery is automated. It’s going from the top just as it would in any natural situation on the surface of a cliff or a rock.

Girbaud in Paris got their shoes organically decorated.

How does the Vertical Garden survive in a fully air-conditioned environment like a shop, a museum, or even one inhospitable place like a car park?

It’s creating its own specific climate. It has been proved that the Vertical Garden enhances atmospheric humidity in its vicinity, thus enabling small ferns and mosses to appear and seeds to germinate. Shops and museums turn out to be very suitable places for this kind of implementation indeed. And even though a car park is supplemented with specific artificial light… tropical plants that survive by growing in the shades are perfectly suitable for sunless locations.

The Siam Paragon Shopping Center in Bangkok

What about maintenance, how often do you have to look after the plants?

Whenever the plant selection is correct, there is no need at all to change the plants! This is not like an ordinary garden… looking after it three or four times a year is enough.

Hotel du Département [government headquarters] in Hauts-de-Seine, France

What a pity you didn’t provide me with picts of your green laboratory. But as your witty assistant Jean-Luc Le Gouallec put it earlier in his email to me: ‘Laboratory… the whole world is the laboratory. Botany is studied mostly on the field.’. So - what about the definition of your gardens: Do you regard them first and foremost as art or more as green architecture?

The Vertical Garden as it is known in English, is something closer to a living painting than to a garden. Actually I named it le mur vegetal, meaning vegetal wall. I’m a scientist, a botanist and the Vertical Garden is derived from many observations I made in natural places mostly in tropical areas for more than 30 years now…

My scientific approach is essential for designing the whole system and for selecting the plant species suitable for each peculiar location.

Rampant growings besides a hotel elevator shaft.

While studying the elaborate ways how plants survive in the harshest conditions – is there something in it that humans could adopt, too?

Well… humans should try to develop a way of living that wastes lesser natural resources. For example understory plants receive less than one percent of sunlight… Humans should also try to limit or reduce their own growing population… Don’t get me wrong on that, please. But compare it to a tropical forest: Inside this forest there is a lot of space left totally uncovered without any plant growing on it. Maybe humans shouldn’t use all the space that is still available… I also would like to say that regarding plants, wherever natural resources are scarce, biodiversity is higher and the competition between individuals is lower… Humans should keep that in mind when coping with the exploitation of earth’s resources.

A little lace for the elevator of the Emporium Bangkok.

Good to see this from another perspective. But Patrick doesn’t finish the interview before recommending some of his favourite plants for everyone’s sterile office: “Araceae, Begonia, and Ludisia would be nice”, he said. Now go and to turn our white office walls into a wildly blooming orchid garden. Thank you, Patrick!

151 Comments

  1. May we know what skyscraper he’s gonna transform in Malaysia next year? Cause I’m living in Malaysia and would like to see it in progress.

    Posted by: Dave on December 8th, 2006 at 11:13 pm

  2. This is a wonderful idea, but PVC( Polyvinylchloride) is the worst plastic substance for both the environment and health, giving off toxins which are carciogenic, leading to damage to the reproductive,immune and endocrine systems. Dioxins are released into the atmosphere when it is disposed of, so, nice idea but back to the drawing board on the ‘Eco’ front!

    Posted by: Ian Harris on December 8th, 2006 at 11:39 pm

  3. his works are beautiful. im amazed!

    Posted by: Elit Alice on December 9th, 2006 at 12:39 am

  4. Im living in Kuala Lumpur too, which building is it gona be hmm…

    Posted by: Catch52 on December 9th, 2006 at 3:27 am

  5. This looks fantastic. There are actually a Swedish brand that has a mini version in their collection. Check out the Plantwall here: http://www.greenfortune.com

    Posted by: David Carlson on December 9th, 2006 at 4:37 am

  6. I was hoping for something in Britain I could go visit.

    Posted by: Badger on December 9th, 2006 at 5:08 am

  7. awesome! No other words come into my mind.

    Posted by: keanu on December 9th, 2006 at 12:23 pm

  8. [...] PingMag » Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture (tags: gardening walls architecture botany cool) [...]

    Posted by: Heraclitean Fire » Links on December 9th, 2006 at 8:19 pm

  9. Find more pictures on Patrick Blanc’s official website !!
    http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com

    Posted by: Plumeria on December 10th, 2006 at 12:01 am

  10. [...] Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture [...]

    Posted by: Austoon Daily » The art of organic architecture on December 10th, 2006 at 1:20 am

  11. [...] Vertical Gardening [...]

    Posted by: Freakuency » Vertical Gardening on December 10th, 2006 at 2:06 am

  12. [...] Vertical Gardening [...]

    Posted by: Freakuency » Vertical Gardening on December 10th, 2006 at 2:06 am

  13. what a wonderful idea!

    Posted by: moon on December 10th, 2006 at 4:27 am

  14. [...] Organic architecture, of a fuzzy and growy kind. Chia-pet buildings. [...]

    Posted by: RESARCH.NET / Growing a Facade on December 10th, 2006 at 7:16 am

  15. Most plastic substances are toxic when destroyed etc. but I don’t think that growing plants on the PVC sheet would cause it to degenerate into the toxic substances. Although if the management opted to add whatever chemicals into the water for the plante, that may be another story now.

    Posted by: Dave on December 10th, 2006 at 11:33 am

  16. [...] با وضعي كه براي شهرها پيش آمده است ، جاي اميدواريست كه طراحي شهري به سمت ايجاد باغهاي عمودي مي رود. جناب پاتريك بلانك از فعالين در اين زمينه است كه از باغهاي معلق بابل ايده گرفته است. سايت رسمي و قشنگ آقاي پاتريك بلانك [...]

    Posted by: شكّر » Blog Archive » باغهاي عمودي on December 10th, 2006 at 5:40 pm

  17. so cool

    Posted by: dédé on December 11th, 2006 at 4:06 am

  18. [...] Vertical Gardens of Patrick Blanc via PingMag Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

    Posted by: Unusual Life » Vertical Gardens on December 11th, 2006 at 9:57 am

  19. We some greenwalls down under, check out http://www.greenwallaustralia.com.au

    Posted by: ED on December 11th, 2006 at 12:41 pm

  20. [...] Verena in pinkmag writes a feature story on organic architecture, where plants can grow vertically into a garden building. Oiwan Lam [...]

    Posted by: Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Japan: organic architecture on December 11th, 2006 at 1:00 pm

  21. very very nice^

    Posted by: Shall Zou on December 11th, 2006 at 1:02 pm

  22. I want a green office too!

    Posted by: yuko tamai on December 11th, 2006 at 8:20 pm

  23. Sorry Dave, I was talking about the chemicals used in the manufacture of P.V.C., which are totally toxic. If Patrick could use some other product or method to hang the foliage, it would be beautiful AND eco friendly!

    Posted by: Ian Harris on December 11th, 2006 at 8:50 pm

  24. [...] (via Projo, via pingmag) [...]

    Posted by: enthusiasm » Blog Archive » Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens on December 11th, 2006 at 11:37 pm

  25. [...] Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture (tags: gardening plants cliff vertical) [...]

    Posted by: Matt Nelsen :: links for 2006-12-10 on December 11th, 2006 at 11:39 pm

  26. Revolutionary thoughts of living green cities, free food falling from sky scrapers, cool green light in high summer, animals reclaiming the concrete…..smiling, happy humans….

    Posted by: antoni on December 12th, 2006 at 7:13 am

  27. [...] Garden cress I saw an article about the architect Patrick Blanc who grows plants on walls. I had the idea to reclaim parts of our urban space by individualization through fast growing plants in places where plants usually are not able grow. The first plant I thought of was cress, garden cress to be exact(Lepidium sativum), which has the property of growing very fast. Here´s an excerpt from the mentioned Article on Pingmag: The Vertical Garden is composed of three parts: a metal frame, a PVC layer and 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 1cm thick PVC sheet is then riveted on the metal frame. This layer brings rigidity to the whole structure and makes it waterproof. After that comes a felt layer made of polyamide that is stapled on the PVC. This felt is corrosion-resistant and its high capillarity allows a homogeneous water distribution. The roots are now growing on this felt. [...]

    Posted by: dasAutomat.com » Blog Archive » mild ecoterrorism comes to mind on December 13th, 2006 at 8:12 am

  28. [...] Organic Architecture Interesting article on Organic Architecture, and bringing living nature to our spaces. [...]

    Posted by: 1983 » 2006-12-13 Daily Catch on December 13th, 2006 at 2:09 pm

  29. [...] PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture jardins horisontais. perfeito. (tags: architecture design environment plants green ecology gardening) [...]

    Posted by: pristina.org | everything design » links for 2006-12-13 on December 14th, 2006 at 5:20 am

  30. That’s a really good idea, this’ll be helpful for the year 10 art pupils in my school, we have to do the topic natural vs. manmade to start our GCSE course. I wish i’d know about Blanc when i was doing that.

    Posted by: K on December 14th, 2006 at 6:33 am

  31. [...] PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture jardins horisontais. perfeito. (tags: architecture design environment plants green ecology gardening) [...]

    Posted by: links for 2006-12-13 | blog.ftofani.com on December 14th, 2006 at 7:20 am

  32. Yet another great article :)
    It would be very interesting to see something like this in Athens. It would definetely lower temperature in the sizzling hot summer in the cities + it would help battle the smog.

    Keep up the good work :]

    Posted by: freethan on December 14th, 2006 at 5:50 pm

  33. Amazing!

    Posted by: alfer22 on December 14th, 2006 at 6:44 pm

  34. [...] Benjamin directed me to vertical gardens. The wallpaper garden is super cool. [...]

    Posted by: The Cliffs of Inanity » Blog Archive » Links on December 15th, 2006 at 9:11 am

  35. [...] There’s lots more over at Ping Mag, which also includes a very fascinating interview with Patrick Blanc himself. Check it out. [...]

    Posted by: Offbeat Homes » Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens on December 15th, 2006 at 11:07 pm

  36. i live in chicago, this is a wonderful way of using alternate means of decorating!!

    Posted by: chris on December 17th, 2006 at 3:23 am

  37. [...] Botanist Patrick Blanc does his gardening on walls, man! Very cool: Link - via Valley-Daze   [...]

    Posted by: Neatorama » Blog Archive » Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Garden. on December 18th, 2006 at 3:21 am

  38. [...] Botanist Patrick Blanc does his gardening on walls, man! Very cool: Link - via Valley-Daze [...]

    Posted by: interesting things - kuratkull.com » Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Garden. on December 18th, 2006 at 4:16 am

  39. [...] Vertical Gardens: The art of organic architecture Frenchman Patrick Blanc overgrows the vertical surfaces of buildings in the most beautiful way. What he creates is far away from any fancy horticultural show, his Vertical Garden could rather be called eco-art, or greener architecture consisting of a variety of plants trailing gently up any interior or outside wall. Imagine the Hanging Gardens of ancient Babylon but this time on modern concrete buildings. [...]

    Posted by: Patrick Blanc’s amazing Vertical Gardens [Frogsmoke.com] on December 18th, 2006 at 11:55 pm

  40. I am designing a vertical garden in New York City. It is 40′ tall by 16′ wide and will be open to the public soon, since it is the backyard of a hotel. See my website for photos of other projects and let us know if you would like to be added to our mailing list.
    -Amber Freda Landscape Design

    Posted by: Amber Freda on December 19th, 2006 at 1:32 am

  41. wow

    Posted by: edwindebus@yahoo.com on December 19th, 2006 at 1:29 pm

  42. [...] Chill out with some songs from The Designer Mixtape. I’m still in awed by PingMag’s article on Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture. (Hey, they even mentioned that there will be one skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur will be Greeni-fied. Wonder which one would it be) [...]

    Posted by: Design Enterprise » Blog Archive » Hello X’mas on December 20th, 2006 at 12:13 pm

  43. jajaja esta muy buenaso d verdad muy bueno cuanto estara valorizado ese edifisio.? $…………….?

    Posted by: alex on December 22nd, 2006 at 12:39 pm

  44. i would love to see it in Malaysia too , i think starhill will be great as it has already a forest concept in it. :)

    Posted by: pris on December 25th, 2006 at 3:28 pm

  45. Could this idea be adapted to Central Texas (near Austin)? People hardly grow flowers here because everything dries out so fast, but things are generally green here nonetheless.

    Could one do this inside a living room? How much would it cost. Could you use grow lights? I don’t have much sunlight that comes in due to a large covered patio. I’ve always wondered if grow lights in that situation would prompt a visit from the sheriff because they sometimes search for people grow marijuana by flying over and seeking hot spots. I guess I don’t care if they come, but I was wondering whether it was practical.

    Posted by: Andrea on December 27th, 2006 at 1:17 am

  46. This is very, very, very nice ….
    No Comment

    Posted by: Cmeldo on December 27th, 2006 at 9:51 pm

  47. Amber Freda– where is the project you are doing in NYC? I’d love to come see it!

    Posted by: Anne on December 28th, 2006 at 12:17 pm

  48. no to nawet fajnie wygląda

    Posted by: marek on December 28th, 2006 at 6:36 pm

  49. [...] The Tokyo-based Ping Magazine, has a fascinating interview with this green guru. Below is a small excerpt: [...]

    Posted by: GroovyGreen.com - Start Today :: Save Tomorrow : Blog Archive : Vertical Gardens: Adding Some Green To The Concrete Jungle on January 1st, 2007 at 8:01 am

  50. جميل جمال مالوش مثال

    Posted by: اتس اتس on January 1st, 2007 at 12:50 pm

  51. Someone mentioned the toxicity of pvc production. You are assuming of course that he’s using brand new pvc and not recycling used pvc. I don’t know if he is or not but it’s something to look into, used pvc has to be disposed of somehow and reusing it is far better than dumping it in a landfill.

    Posted by: Noadi on January 2nd, 2007 at 5:44 am

  52. Hmm this is gives me some Idea for my house of tomorrow :)

    Excelent article, Ping Mag is really an eye opener for me.

    Happy New Year from Indonesia (^ ^)/~

    Posted by: Kuswanto on January 2nd, 2007 at 11:08 pm

  53. I’m curious about the point about soil. I know that you can grow plants withut soil and a huge array of plants grow without it. However is it not also the case that rhizome networks in soil connecting roots to nitrogen-(and nutrient)fixing bacteria can be important? Would that have any bearing upon this type of architecture?

    Please develop something like this in Austin, Tx. Folks will love it.

    Posted by: donald on January 4th, 2007 at 7:49 am

  54. For those you who want more, this guy is not the only one to do living walls. See http://www.eltlivingwalls.com/ and http://www.naturaire.com/

    Posted by: Marguerite on January 9th, 2007 at 2:07 am

  55. [...] Via Neatorama. » original news [...]

    Posted by: Rmutt.com » Blog Archive » Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture on January 11th, 2007 at 3:37 am

  56. hola espero te guste

    Posted by: Anonymous on January 16th, 2007 at 8:37 am

  57. Patric Blanc,

    Please contact me regarding a Vertical Garden installation on a project I am designing. Check my webpage for my version of a Vertical Garden at 43 Div. police station in Toronto too.

    Posted by: Nelson Wong on January 18th, 2007 at 5:23 am

  58. This is a great creation… with some adaptation and looking at using it externally, it could help make cities less ugly and more clean and environmentally friendly. Living walls would help reduce pollution and help keep buildings cooler in the summer. All we need is for similar plan types which can survive without much water…

    Well done Mr Blanc… wonderful use of such a natural idea. Nature does it a bit better and we can keep learning from it.

    Posted by: roadkill on January 20th, 2007 at 7:27 am

  59. I would have to agree with the comment on the use of PVC. I live in Paris and have seen a few of his works, I didn’t know he was using pvc, and I find that kinda of awkward for the whole “eco” initiative. It just doesn’t add up. Ditch the PVC.

    Posted by: Anonymous on January 29th, 2007 at 7:33 pm

  60. YOU MUST SEE WHAT mr.ERIC BOND FROM ENVIROZONE IN MONTREAL, QUÉBEC, CANADA DO ON HIS SIDE, …. AMAZING “MURS VÉGÉTAL” HE HAVE HIS OWN SYSTEM..this guy is an artist..a real organic master !! ( see http://www.envirozone.ca)

    Posted by: Lars on February 16th, 2007 at 1:23 am

  61. [...] is a botanist and is famous for - among other things - having done a vertical plant wall at the Quai Branly museum in Paris. I had some hopes of perusading him to come over and do Hampton Court with me, but no luck. He [...]

    Posted by: The Life and Times of Anthony Samuelson » Blog Archive » BLOG of BLOGS (forget the others for the moment) on March 25th, 2007 at 10:08 pm

  62. PVC (polyvinyl chloride or vinyl) is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective, posing unique and major hazards in its manufacture, product life and disposal. Global vinyl production totals over 30 million tons per year, and 75% of PVC is directed to building applications.

    PVC has contributed a significant portion of the world’s burden of persistent toxic pollutants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals - including dioxin and phthalates - that are now universally present in the environment and the human population.

    Posted by: Anonymous on March 26th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

  63. [...] imagine a new urbansuburban landscape (and interiors) VERTICAL GARDEN PATRICK BLANC MURS VEGETAUX PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things”

    Posted by: Global Warming Dogma - Page 5 - PC Apex Forums on March 26th, 2007 at 1:41 pm

  64. [...] Read the rest of the article at Ping. I’d love to see some of these on campus. Beats the pants off ivy. Nothing is more infuriating than ivy wearing pants… [...]

    Posted by: Vertical Gardening at Localoaf - Information: It’s the Magic on April 7th, 2007 at 4:04 pm

  65. These walls are very cool. I just finished building one in Toronto at the Sheraton Centre Hotel. Our wall is at the main entrance so when you walk in you have to walk under the whole structure. I put 11 different species on the wall and it has its own irregation system that waters it 5 times a day. If you are in the Toronto area please stop by and see our Living Wall, and there is a good chance I will be there to awnser any questions.

    Cheers!!

    Posted by: Chris Curtis on April 12th, 2007 at 9:37 am

  66. I mentioned some notes about Patrick Blanc last Oct. and I’m so happy to be seeing a lot more posts and discussions of Vertical Gardens. In a similar vein, although horizontal, i’ve been interested in recessed gardens as well…

    I have a few notes and photos at http://city-on-fire.blogspot.com/ in case anyone is interested.

    Posted by: CityOnFire on April 12th, 2007 at 4:04 pm

  67. [...] highly recommend reading this article on organic architecture. Truly [...]

    Posted by: Mornin’ beautiful » It’s 3am, but I ain’t lonley ‘cuz it’s 10am in Istanbul on April 13th, 2007 at 4:02 pm

  68. Anyone claiming poly vinyl chloride is “the worst plastic substance for both the environment and health” is probably guilty of ignorance and hyperbole on other subjects as well.

    Posted by: Paul Ding on May 2nd, 2007 at 3:48 pm

  69. [...] really feeling Patrick Blanc’s vertical garden organic architecture, great stuff [via [...]

    Posted by: Quality Peoples » Patrick Blanc on May 3rd, 2007 at 6:57 am

  70. [...] pingmag.jp Arvioi jutun mielenkiintoisuutta: (Ei arvioita)  Loading … Samaa aihetta sivuavia [...]

    Posted by: Hilavitkutin.com - uutisia härveleistä ja hilavitkuttimista » Blog Archive » Pystysuuntaisia puutarhoja on May 3rd, 2007 at 4:01 pm

  71. wow!

    Posted by: klau on May 3rd, 2007 at 6:08 pm

  72. [...] A arte da jardinagem arquitectónica Entrevista com Patrick Blanc. Via O Elogio da Sombra. [...]

    Posted by: No Campo Pequeno não vão sobrar árvores + at Quinta do Sargaçal on May 8th, 2007 at 8:39 am

  73. [...] because with all of the crap on the Internet you need someone to lead you to awesome album covers, awesome architecture, awesome ninja moves and awesome commentary on awesome book [...]

    Posted by: THOMnottom.com - Tab clearance 2007-05-13 on May 14th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

  74. I was just in Paris last week and I stopped by th Musee de quai branley to see exactly how Patric Blanc has designed the structure. It seems that he put a black plastic layer and a white plastic layer (perforated) between the PVC and the felt. Does anyone know what the purpose is of these two thin plastic layers are? Also I noticed that the white plastic layer was at the bottom of the pods where the plants were inserted within the felt.

    Posted by: amir on May 24th, 2007 at 1:58 pm

  75. [...] awesome Michigan Ave would look if the fronts of all the buildings were covered with plant life. PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » Vertical Garde… Patrick Blanc overgrows the vertical surfaces of buildings in the most beautiful way. What he [...]

    Posted by: Urban Eco Blog » Blog Archive » Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture on May 24th, 2007 at 10:31 pm

  76. thats so beautiful

    Posted by: Daniel on June 5th, 2007 at 2:16 pm

  77. [...] Eu vi no PingMag [...]

    Posted by: neorama on June 26th, 2007 at 10:11 pm

  78. me encanta

    Posted by: jimena on June 28th, 2007 at 12:10 pm

  79. [...] Botanist : Patrick Blanc Next is an interview by PingMag about the amazing vertical green walls and gardens by Nouvel collaborator, Patrick Blanc, a French botanist. Blanc worked with Nouvel on the vertical [...]

    Posted by: 3 Degrees of Jean Nouvel « Arkhitekton on August 6th, 2007 at 3:18 pm

  80. Great work, are there any technical instructions available so that we can build a garden wall too?
    Maybe we can try using bamboo for the frame, it doesn’t rust, and looks good.

    Posted by: Robertooroark on September 5th, 2007 at 8:23 am

  81. amazed with photographs.a wonderful work done by you but for learners please make it more eloborative

    Posted by: dr.prabhat kumar on September 25th, 2007 at 2:37 pm

  82. [...] Patrick Blanc overgrows the vertical surfaces of buildings in the most beautiful way. What he creates is far away from any fancy horticultural show, his Vertical Garden could rather be called eco-art, or greener architecture consisting of a variety of plants trailing gently up any interior or outside wall. Read more… [...]

    Posted by: Vertical Garden: art meets ecology meets architecture at // world citizen on September 27th, 2007 at 10:19 pm

  83. This is truly one of the greatest ideas ever, Now Patrick selling plans and kits to buil our own, I am triying hard to build one but sadly the so called “Polyamide Felt” is not available anywhere! and this the most important part to build one, just hope Patrick gives up his secret.

    Posted by: Ruben on September 29th, 2007 at 2:12 am

  84. Hey they are doing it down under, sustainable too! http://www.greenwallaustralia.com.au

    Posted by: peter on October 27th, 2007 at 6:15 am

  85. good..

    Posted by: hieu03k3 on November 13th, 2007 at 6:36 pm

  86. 讲句中文~哈灵~

    Posted by: JAscha on December 3rd, 2007 at 10:00 pm

  87. [...] the ‘Vertical Garden’ walls of botanist Patrick Blanc in an interview with him for Ping. I’ve just gotta get me some of [...]

    Posted by: Going Really, Really Green - North Carolina Travel Guide on December 11th, 2007 at 7:40 am

  88. http://www.a-green.cn
    http://www.anyou9.cn

    Posted by: anyou on January 20th, 2008 at 5:50 pm

  89. Organic design! Interesting!

    Lee Klein
    Fine Artist
    http://leeklein.wordpress.com

    Posted by: Lee Klein on February 15th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

  90. [...] are some good articles about him here and here, and of course there’s his website. Tagged:cool [...]

    Posted by: I Love This World :: I love Patrick Blanc on February 21st, 2008 at 6:31 am

  91. I worked with Patrick in his Istanbul project.

    Posted by: Volkan Erkan on March 4th, 2008 at 12:47 am

  92. 非常漂亮，very good!!!

    Posted by: 安友 on March 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

  93. 有发展 有前途 建筑绿化是城市发展新方向！

    Posted by: 安友 on March 7th, 2008 at 12:46 pm

  94. organinc architecture

    Posted by: steve williams on March 8th, 2008 at 2:12 am

  95. [...] PingMag » Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture Patrick Blanc overgrows the vertical surfaces of buildings in the most beautiful way. What he creates is far away from any fancy horticultural show, his Vertical Garden (le mur vegetal) could rather be called eco-art, or greener architecture. (tags: pingmag PatrickBlanc CNRS scientist botanist french paris interview architecture design art plants green environment garden ecology vegetal wall biodiversity aracea begonia ludisia kualalumpur) Filed under: del.icio.us   |   [...]

    Posted by: links for 2008-03-24 « Hic Sunt Dracones on March 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pm

  96. 오 대단하군. 그런데 돈이 많이 들 것 같은데…

    it looks like it need more money

    Posted by: 권오신 on April 14th, 2008 at 11:02 pm

  97. http://www.a-green.com.cn

    Posted by: anyou on April 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 am

  98. [...] juhul kolm-neli korda aastas. Takkaotsa sobib selline sein ehitamiseks ka siseruumidesse. … siit ja Rootslastel on midagi sarnast, miniversioonis, siin. Ahjaa. Linn Lilleliseks 2008 kah! [...]

    Posted by: Gerd Tarand » Arhiiv » Kasvatame majadel seinad roheliseks? Jälle. on May 7th, 2008 at 12:28 am

  99. I too have been unable to find polyamide felt. And it seems that this is a key ingredient to the success of the wall. Does anyone know how to get this, or a very good substitute?

    I am dying to experiment in my own home. This is just such a fantastic idea.

    Posted by: HR on May 19th, 2008 at 2:18 am

  100. Is there anyone in India who can do this? I want to do one in Bangalore for a commercial complex- about 40 sqmeters. Please email me at phalgun.chidanand@gmail.com if you can help me with this project.

    Posted by: Phalgun on May 26th, 2008 at 6:28 pm

  101. When I saw the pixs I thought cool and then got an idea so I skecthed it. When I saw the pixs of the vertical garden in the Hotel Elevator shaft I tot…WAO!!!now this guy really got me. Honestly, i think it’s breath-taking and truly remarkable…talk about a UPGRADE OF THE HANGING GARDENS AND HERE YOU HAVE IT!

    Posted by: Daniel Attoye on June 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 pm

  102. [...] It reminded me of “vertical gardener” Patrick Blanc, who was recently featured in the New York Times (”All His Rooms are Living Rooms.) I saw as many people taking snapshots of his Musée du Quai Branly wall, as any other landmark in Paris. Here are some of his most exquisite designs: [...]

    Posted by: may 07 « Joannemcneil’s Weblog on June 24th, 2008 at 3:31 am

  103. good article boys!!! great facade system!

    Posted by: archema on June 25th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

  104. [...] designer that everyone seems to watch is Patrick Blanc - read an interview with him here. He does these fabulous wall sculptures with plants. A steel frame is mounted onto the face of the [...]

    Posted by: growing a green wall « gardenopolis on July 1st, 2008 at 3:56 am

  105. [...] information on Blanc’s Website, as well as reports about Blanc here (German) and here [...]

    Posted by: Patrick Blanc: Murs Végétaux « deconarch on July 4th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

  106. [...] clipped from pingmag.jp [...]

    Posted by: Vertical Garden: The art of organic architecture « The Bee Buzz on July 22nd, 2008 at 2:50 pm

  107. Please help us to spread this news by your web .We need to get known by more foreigners.

    The first green vertical wall in China was finished successfully in Wuhan Seven One middle school.
    The project was desighed and completed by Wuhan AN YOU S&T CO.,LTD, used the sub-vertical green technology.It maked the laboratory buildings wall of Seven One middle school be vertical greened for a large area immediately in 13 days.The wall has the effectivenesses such as dust keeping,noise reduction,landscaping,and has becomed a bright new landscape of the school.
    Once you enter the school gate,you will be completely attracted by the 200㎡    s green wall.
    It used the automatic irrigation system that has the effectivenesses of fertilization and application.These effectivenesses will make the later conservation more scientific,stringent and simpler.
    http://www.anyou9.cn

    Posted by: anyou in China on September 1st, 2008 at 3:44 pm

  108. I want to do sumthing lik this in Delhi, India. Obviously much smaller and less grander than his ones, for now… anyone who’s been doin nethng lik this here pls get in touch with me.
    dodo.juan@gmail.com

    Posted by: Chander on October 9th, 2008 at 11:26 pm

  109. There is a great interview with Patrick Blanc and a video showing how his vertical garden in Melbourne, Australia was made.

    http://www.inframe.tv/videoproject.aspx?id=3

    Posted by: Matt on October 12th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

  110. does anyone know where i can find a section drawing of his vertical garden? i know it’s made up of 3 layers [metal frame, pvc, felt] but would be nice to see the structural diagram so i can use it for my uni project

    cheers

    ps:pls reply to blue_sonata@hotmail.com

    Posted by: Anonymous on October 20th, 2008 at 5:17 am

  111. [...] French botanist Patrick Blanc has been creating what Ping Magazine calls, “organic wallpapers” since [...]

    Posted by: le mur végétal « land relief on January 6th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

  112. [...] (image via: Pseangsong + pingmag) [...]

    Posted by: Beyond Green Roofs: 15 Vertically Vegetated Buildings | WebEcoist on March 3rd, 2009 at 8:08 am

  113. [...] Marche des Halles [...]

    Posted by: 10 Incredible Living Walls on March 11th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

  114. [...] Marche des Halles [...]

    Posted by: 10 Living Walls on March 12th, 2009 at 11:24 am

  115. [...] (image via: Pseangsong + pingmag) [...]

    Posted by: Beyond Green Roofs: 15 Vertically Vegetated Buildings « WickedEco on March 16th, 2009 at 3:06 am

  116. [...] The Art of Organic Architecture [...]

    Posted by: Urban Gardening: The Sky is the Limit « The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker on March 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm

  117. [...] Marche des Halles [...]

    Posted by: 11 Incredible Living Walls - Green News on April 11th, 2009 at 5:37 am

  118. [...] (Image credit: pingmag). [...]

    Posted by: Love your life with plants « le jabber on April 16th, 2009 at 11:46 pm

  119. [...] Patrick Blanc: verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com Thanks to: NYTimes and PingMag [...]

    Posted by: Keep it green « frabjous days on April 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pm

  120. 1v21p5vn80gh8ak9

    讲句中文

    Posted by: Tracey Lewis on May 1st, 2009 at 4:10 am

  121. Would this concept work in an arid conditions, such as the southwestern desert of the United States?

    Posted by: Lisa on May 4th, 2009 at 2:49 am

  122. [...] source: PingMag - You can also read the whole interview with Patrick Blanc [...]

    Posted by: Patrick Blanc: Vertical Garden Art on May 15th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

  123. [...] PingMag: http://pingmag.jp/2006/12/08/vertical-garden-the-art-of-organic-architecture/ [...]

    Posted by: Patrick Blanc, Vertical Garden Interview in Paris : Green Kampong - Inspiring a greener today on June 3rd, 2009 at 6:34 pm

  124. Here is my first plant wall inside my house, almost 3 years from set up

    Posted by: Cambo on June 11th, 2009 at 4:06 am

  125. [...] Read the full interview (with lots of photos). See also: Blanc’s web site. [...]

    Posted by: mental_floss Blog » Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens on June 22nd, 2009 at 5:37 am

  126. Check out vertical-gardens.net

    Posted by: Harry on July 20th, 2009 at 3:31 am

  127. [...] Marche des Halles [...]

    Posted by: 11 Incredible Living Walls on September 27th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

  128. [...] Marche des Halles [...]

    Posted by: 11 Incredible Living Walls on September 27th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

  129. Check out my blog for information on making your own greenwall.

    diygreenwalls.blogspot.com

    Posted by: Matthew McGregor-Mento on December 10th, 2009 at 8:42 am

  130. Really creative & innovative.

    Posted by: Kanggo on December 18th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

  131. http://www.a-green.cn
    http://www.anyou9.cn
    good!

    Posted by: anyou on January 7th, 2010 at 1:17 pm

  132. 有发展 有前途 建筑绿化是城市发展新方向！

    Posted by: anyou on January 7th, 2010 at 1:18 pm

  133. Great Idea! We need to see more of these green walls.

    Posted by: Zeno Winkens on January 8th, 2010 at 7:38 pm

  134. [...] pingmag] Share and [...]

    Posted by: Green Living Walls, Vertical Gardens, Urban Rainforests - Plants on a wall | The Chic Ecologist on February 4th, 2010 at 2:49 am

  135. great detailed article - thanks

    Posted by: Garden Beet on February 5th, 2010 at 11:35 pm

  136. [...] Ping Mag’s Vertical Gardening: The Art of Organic Architecture [...]

    Posted by: Lolly Knitting Around » Going Vertical: A Green Experiment on May 14th, 2010 at 10:28 pm

  137. Thank you for this information was good

    Posted by: porno on May 15th, 2010 at 1:04 am

  138. because with all of the crap on the Internet you need someone to lead you to awesome album covers, awesome architecture, awesome ninja moves and awesome commentary on awesome book

    Posted by: esenyurt on June 6th, 2010 at 7:04 am

  139. great articles. Thank u sharring. O Nice.

    Posted by: porno on June 9th, 2010 at 4:44 pm

  140. Great Idea! We need to see more of these green walls.

    Posted by: sikis on June 12th, 2010 at 5:30 am

  141. sağolGreat Idea! We need to see more of these green walls.

    Posted by: sikiş on June 12th, 2010 at 5:58 am

  142. sağolGreat Idea! We need to see more of these green walls.

    Posted by: türk sikiş on June 12th, 2010 at 5:59 am

  143. because with all of the crap on the Internet you need someone to lead you to awesome album covers, awesome architecture, awesome ninja moves and awesome commentary on awesome book

    Posted by: Justin Bieber on June 13th, 2010 at 6:23 pm

  144. Great work, are there any technical instructions available so that we can build a garden wall too?
    Maybe we can try using bamboo for the frame, it doesn’t rust, and looks good.

    Posted by: Magazin on June 13th, 2010 at 6:24 pm

  145. great articles. Thank u sharring. O Nice.

    Posted by: travesti on June 16th, 2010 at 5:55 am

  146. [...] (image via: Pseangsong + pingmag) [...]

    Posted by: Funny Pictures, Videos and Games on June 17th, 2010 at 1:18 pm

  147. [...] that way. Since then, I’ve seen these green walls popping up in various spaces on the web: in organic architecture, at a posh hotel, in the pages of Elle Decor, and, most recently, in the New York Times which even [...]

    Posted by: vertical wall gardens, pre-planting « kitchen activities on June 30th, 2010 at 2:13 am

  148. sdsads

    Posted by: dsadsa on June 30th, 2010 at 9:11 pm

  149. Check out my blog for information on making your own greenwall.

    diygreenwalls.blogspot.com

    Posted by: çanta on July 29th, 2010 at 3:20 pm

  150. I really enjoy the merging of art and science. So often, we think of people as being analytical or creative. As a result, when we think of scientists, we think of boring, sterile people working in equally sterile environments. In this case, we have a brilliant scientist creating living, breathing, works of art. Awesome!

    Posted by: Julia The Hydroponic Nutrients Girl on August 4th, 2010 at 5:59 am

  151. I love the Robe Végétale.
    It’s very beautiful.

    It shows nature’s beauty.
    It’s irresistible.

    Posted by: contemporary water feature on August 26th, 2010 at 1:08 pm

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