Canadian designers Green Over Grey have recently given North America its largest and most biologically diverse living wall. The 3,000 square feet alluring green wall at the Semiahmoo Public Library and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Facility in Surrey, British Columbia includes over 10,000 individual plants. The self-sufficient hydroponic vertical garden is wrapped around a frame featuring waterproof panels attached to a wall at a fixed distance, allowing air circulation and no damage to the building.
The lights and automatic irrigation system fixed onto the frame produces healthy, green plants. The unique design combined with a variety of plants adds to the aesthetics. Seeking LEED certification, the living wall offers natural insulation, rain-screening and air purifying benefits to the building. Not only are the plants employed to do the air purification act, but the efficient air-purifiers also contribute in their own little way.
The wall exhibits an interestingly unique design, thanks to the large perennials, shrubs and small trees from 120 unique species. Apart from providing a healthy living environment for the employees and visitors, the Green Over Grey living wall is also expected to reduce electricity bills in winter by up to 20 percent and reduce temperatures in summer by as much as 7°C.
