Living walls provide a turnkey green solution for cities around the world that promise to redefine urban living by turning concrete jungles into green city oases. The smart skin is a medium for hydroponic planting and is a sustainable solution for advanced green living.
Redesigning the scope of landscape applications, living walls are challenged by several factors. Environmental factors that affect green walls are numerous, such as geographical location, temperatures, seasons and water quality play critical roles that may affect a plants physiology. It was due to these uncontrolled factors that smart systems have been introduced to be the command center for alarm signal interpretation.
By introducing smart systems into urban green spaces, we can control common issues that influence a living walls’ behavior. Yet, some elements are uncontrollable, thus we circumvent nature’s forces to obtain efficacy. Essentially, gravity affects water containment and vertical plant placement. Our hydroponic skin. however, has significant water retention capabilities, enabling the skin to accommodate plants in the most extreme environments. Evapotranspiration is greatly reduced due to the external felt properties that permit sufficient aeration whilst retaining water in the substrate. Pockets are ripped into the felt to provide a suitable placement for plant roots to spread within the skin.
Guaranteed waterproofing for 10 years is a bold statement that indicates endurance, durability, and confidence in a product. Waterproofing boards are used to protect a primary building structure from corrosive irrigation water and root infiltration. Whereas waterproofing tape is applied to ensure PVC board joints are tightly sealed. Attention to details is a critical element that guarantees long-lasting waterproofing.
The hydroponic skin and waterproofing boards have one similar feature, which is plasticity and the ability to be trimmed into virtually any shape or structure offering flexibility to install and create unique figures.
Operated by a smart board controller, the system automatically regulates itself to maintain optimal conditions for healthy plant growth. A technical unit that instinctively operates the system includes a nutrition Injection system, pressure regulating system and electrical valves for automatic irrigation and fertilizer doses.
The technical unit is the control center for smart automation of green wall conditions. It can regulate incoming pressure and flow for technical functions and filter out coarse to fine particles from clogging the irrigation pipes.
Embedded sensors inside the skin and system allow the system to differentiate between changing weather conditions and environments whilst monitoring live system status. Automated fertilization and irrigation are influenced by live weather conditions and ensure that the system only consumes what is required to remain cost-effective throughout the year.
With low maintenance requirements and user-friendly operation, the green wall system is a sustainable and efficient solution for vertical hydroponic gardens anywhere in the world.
Benefits of Living Walls
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Introduces smart nature
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Reduces electrical consumption through its insulating effects
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Protects building facades from external heat or cold
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Increases Real Estate Value
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Cities breathe; releasing oxygen & filtering toxic pollutants
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Counteracts the consequences of deforestation
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Provides shelter for migratory birds & beneficial insects such as honeybees
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Soothes the body and mind through its ambiance
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Offsets urban heat effect
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Dust particles are filtered from the atmosphere by adhering to the smart skin
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User friendly for fruits and vegetable production in urban areas
1. Site Assessment & preparation:
The process of green wall installation starts by studying detailed drawings provided by clients for location and technical analysis. A team of specialists with a wide array of disciplines that includes agricultural engineers, landscape architects, mechatronic specialists, and botanists combine their skills to execute each project. Thorough studies are conducted, taking into consideration factors such as environmental conditions, which specifies skin selection. Location, which determines plant varieties and selection (indoor/outdoor local plants)). Water supply, water quality, drain points, mechanical and structural details, sensors, client requirements, and lighting conditions are all factors to be considered during the technical assessment. Once complete, a file is submitted to the client for approval.
2. Design & Plant Choice:
Our arts and innovations team provide clients with creative designs for any project to highlight a requested theme. Designing a vertical green wall includes drawing an outline for the structure and finding an ideal location where the end user can benefit most from its presence. Outlining plant design is an interesting art that makes every project a unique. Deciding on plant choices for specific locations requires specialist knowledge and high imagination to create a final design.
3. Installation & Planting:
Our hydroponic skin is manufactured in Lebanon, through an automated process that guarantees high production quality and scalability of projects for international demand. Materials are packaged and labeled with detailed information of each item, ready to be shipped globally. Compliance with international standard regulations is paramount. Our specialized technicians and engineers offer vast international experience. Contractors or sub-contractors can install our patented skin overseen by engineers and site supervision specialists to ensure quality and outstanding waterproofing.
4. Maintenance:
Our company headquarters in Lebanon is readily available to provide technical support and assistance. Contact hellobeirut@green studios.net an operations and maintenance manual is given to clients, which comprises detailed information. Living walls are monitored and controlled via a smartphone application. The product reduces maintenance costs by limiting visits (6 to 12 per year) also limits human intervention: basic nutrition refills, plant trimming, and disease treatment. Reports are digitally summarized and sent instantly to clients.
maintenance application
A phone/tablet application can be logged onto from anywhere around the world to monitor the status of a green wall or roof garden system. Moisture percentage, water pressure, EC/pH ranges, and historical maintenance actions are all important aspects that can be monitored by our partners, to ensure the system is functioning optimally.
Monitoring through a smart application saves time and reduces the risk of plants dying by a factor of 100.
FAQ
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How much water does the green wall consume per square meter?
This varies according to climate and types of plants but as a general guideline, we would say between 1 to 13 lit/sqm/day
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What type of plants can I grow?
A wide variety of outdoor plants are grown on Green Studios skin, from grasses, ground covers, flowering plants, ferns, shrubs, succulent plants, trees and vegetables. High-quality indoor plants are often imported from Holland. Plants are continuously tested in our Research & Development station for a larger palette.
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How often will I need a maintenance visit?
For indoor green walls, a maintenance visit is required every 2 months. Outdoor living walls usually require a visit once a month during growing season. Maintenance includes trimming, cleaning leaves and spraying plants with pesticides. Filters are cleaned and fertilizer tanks refilled on a scheduled basis.
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What happens to the green wall if water or electricity is cut off?
Plants growing on a vertical wall in hot environments cannot survive water shortage. They will wilt and eventually die if not irrigated. In the event of electrical or water failure, a sound alarm on the smart board controller sends an alert. There will be an SMS notification or an alarm to the building monitoring systems that will encourage action. Our technical support team is available to assist the maintenance team on-site and ensure the issue is resolved.
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Does the living wall have any insects?
Naturally, insects exist in outdoor landscapes and are treated with preventative pesticides that are sprayed during frequent maintenance visits. Highly toxic pesticides are not used since it is not required for ornamental plants. However, outdoor green walls that do have many flowering plants attract insects such as bees.
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Does the green wall release any odors?
Well maintained and healthy green walls do not release any odors, in fact, they expunge the air of toxic gases. Some outdoor herbs release aromatic aromas and are capable of growing on green walls. In cases where the drain channel is not sloped properly and water is stagnant, it is only natural for an odor to be released. Our team of engineers ensures this issue does not occur, due to critical site supervision.
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What is required by the client?
Water supply and data connections from technical unit to desired green wall location. Electrical supply at the technical unit. Drain point for green wall gutter/channel
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Why do indoor plants need artificial light?
Since plants require natural light for the natural photosynthetic process, in indoor environments, artificial light provides plants with enough to sustain healthy growth. In addition, it is always recommended to embellish a piece of art with subtle lights to provide an ambient tone.