Patrick Blanc

Patrick Blanc

Botanist and creator of the Vertical Garden

This artist created sky high vertical gardens which scale the buildings in many cities all over the word. Much of Patrick Blanc's work resides in Paris this extract which briefly outlines how the work is created is taken from a text accessible online

Walls and plants, a surprising, though long-lasting combination

cause its destruction. That is precisely what happened to the Angkor temples.

This root-related damage can be prevented if water is regularly given to plants. Roots are then only spreading on the surface, leaving the inner wall unaffected.

From these observations, and aiming at setting up permanent plant cover on walls with a minimum of maintenance, Patrick Blanc conceived the Vertical Garden. The core innovation is to use the root ability to grow not only on a volume (of soil, of water,

of sand, .....) but also on a surface. Without any soil, the plant-supporting system is very light and thus can be implemented on any wall, whatever its size. The Vertical Garden can also be set up indoor. Artificial lighting is then usually required. It's even possible to set it up in fully closed places without any natural light such as underground parking lots.

The plant species selection is set according to the prevailing climatic conditions.

The Vertical Garden is composed of three parts: a metal frame, a PVC layer and a layer of 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 1 cm .-thick PVC sheet is riveted to the metal frame. This layer brings rigidity to the whole structure and makes it waterproof.

A felt layer, made of polyamide, is stapled on the PVC. This felt is rotproof and its high

capillarity allow an homogeneous water distribution. The roots grow on this felt.

Plants are installed on this felt layer as seeds, cuttings or already grown plants. The density is about thirty plants per square meter.

The watering is provided from the top. Tap water must be supplemented with nutrients. Watering and fertilisation are 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 anysize or height limitation.

The Vertical Garden, from nature to cities

A Botanical and Artistic approach

by Patrick Blanc