Between COVID and climate change, we have all become more conscious of our well-being and its relationship to the environment that we live and work in. In response, architects, engineers, and designers are creating new platforms for a healthier living and working space. The use of living walls is one method growing in popularity for both its physical and mental health benefits. A living wall is a carefully selected and designed arrangement of plants, flowers, soil, and a water delivery system that is incorporated into an interior wall.
Living Walls Offer Many Health Benefits:
- Plants improve the quality of indoor air. They absorb and reduce airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and convert them into a compound which plants use for food
- Plants increase oxygen levels in the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen during photosynthesis
- Plants can reduce indoor dust by up to 20%
- Plants release water vapor into the air, which increases humidity, and this can help improve respiratory and skin health by offsetting the drying effects of heating systems
- In offices where there is plenty of greenery, there is a noticeable decrease in absence due to illness
Living Walls Boost Productivity:
- Plants have a proven positive effect on employee satisfaction and productivity
- Increased oxygenation can improve our mood, energy, and mental focus
- A living wall acts as a sound barrier to the building. It absorbs more sound than a traditional facade resulting in a reduction of noise. Employees gain focus with less distractions, allowing for more efficient decision-making on complex tasks
- Studies have found that when people have indoor plants in their office space, their work performance improved
Living Walls Create a Pleasant and Comfortable Environment:
- Installing living walls and maximizing natural light is a great way to bring the outdoors inside
- Humans have a strong connection to nature and bringing nature into your immediate surroundings makes you feel calmer, more content and helps decrease stress and anxiety
- Living walls can act as an additional layer of insulation and help reduce the overall temperature in a space
- Plants absorb sunlight which helps to create a cooler and more pleasant climate during summertime. This means less air conditioning is required, which in turn means more energy savings.
- Living walls are like a piece of artwork, providing an aesthetic component to your office or home
Living walls are a great addition to any space and offer many health benefits to the occupants. Considering adding a living wall to your office, restaurant, or multi-family residence? Contact us at JL Architects and we can help!
-Amy Estrella