2015 was an exciting year when people all over started embracing Artificial Green Walls. We saw some replacement jobs for “live” green walls gone rogue, and also projects where architects and designers worked with our green walls to soften the look of rooms and even entire facades.
We speak with our Creative Director, Gertrude Wong, on her views on Artificial Green Walls in 2015 and beyond.
1. What was your most challenging Artificial Green Wall project in 2015?
I would say it was at Science Park where the wall was 18 m height between narrow lift lobby shafts. The challenge was to be able to visualize how the plants would look like from the vantage point of a person standing at ground floor and also on the higher levels.
We needed scaffolding and deployed our installers with Work-at-height certification. Most importantly, the client was very pleased with the installation, as it helped to break up the monotony of the high lift lobby shafts, and the greens also helped to mute some of the loud sounds reverberating through the tall lobby.
2. What do you think the trend is for Artificial Green Walls in 2016? Are people likely to use it outdoors?
Yes I believe there is a growing trend and awareness in all sectors. Artificial green walls add greenery and colour to liven up a blank wall.
In fact, I think that artificial green walls are most needed outdoors. Buildings like shopping malls, office complexes and, condominiums often come with “hard” finishes on the external façade. Imagine a lush green wall covering just one wall. It dramatically softens the whole façade and make it more appealing to you and me, people who use these places. So for sure, yes, artificial green walls are definitely going outdoors in a bigger way in 2016.
Our outdoor artificial green walls come with a 2 to 5 year guarantee against UV damage, currently the best in the market. This gives desginers and architects more confidence in using our products.
We are continuously improving our outdoor range of plants by delving deep into the science of using the right materials to make them comply with fire safety regulations, and also last longer under the sun. Plants that do not have UV protection fade within 6 months whereas our plants can last up to 5 years outdoors.
We also see companies coming to us from various countries asking to be our distributor and that gives us the confidence to keep investing in our research and development to make our artificial green walls better and even more life-like while requiring no maintenance.
3. How do you arrange the plants on a green wall to make it so life-like? I’ve tried, and failed at it myself. Can you share some insider tips with us?
Call it Art or Creativity – Having some flair helps. Understanding what the customer wants is crucial too. With a theme in mind; you can conceptualise colours, shapes, sizes which will determine how a final wall would look like. Simple designs using one type of plant or plant mats also create a pleasant difference.
A funny incident was when I received a “complaint” from a customer that a greenwall which I did that was meant to be a backdrop to a sculpture ended up stealing its thunder instead. Backhanded compliments like these make my day.
4. Do you have a favourite green wall design?
The “Imagine” signature wall with 48 different species of plants into a 4 square meter wall.
5. What is the most common misconception about Artificial Green Walls and what do you wish people knew about Artificial Green Walls?
Artificial Green Walls are relatively new, so it’s normal that people still don’t know that they are virtually maintenance-free. If it is indoors, you can dust the artificial green wall. If its outdoors, let the rain take care of it.
The kind of mood a panel of green brings to the users of a space is immeasurable; and is a worthy investment that will save maintenance cost and time in the long run. It complements in areas where real plants cannot grow or last due to lack or over exposure of sunlight. Artificial Green Walls add that element of beauty without maintenance and truly enhances the value of your property.
Got a wall that you’d like to green? Contact our experienced team at enquiry@greenturf.asia today!
