by verticalgardendesign.com

GROWING PLANTS ON A VERTICAL SURFACE HAS BEEN POSSIBLE AFTER STUDIES OF NATURAL VERTICAL LOCATIONS — PLACES WITHOUT SOIL WHERE IN NATURE THERE MAY BE A GREAT ABUNDANCE OF PLANT SPECIES. THE TECHNIQUE IMITATES THESE LOCATIONS, SO IT ALSO FUNCTION WITHOUT SOIL, HAVING THE BENEFITS OF MAKING THE SURFACE VERY LIGHT AND EASY TO TAILOR TO ANY GEOMETRY.

DESIGN / PROCESS

Each vertical garden is given a unique design and selection of species. The composition of plants takes in consideration the specific environment where it will be built, such as the local- and micro climate, sun exposure and the surrounding context. The aim is to create a one of a kind and site-specific garden that stands beautiful through all the seasons of the year.

A well-executed design is also a way to minimize the future maintenance demand of the garden. A plant's growth habit, size and behavior on a vertical surface is important knowledge for making the right combination of species, in order to keep the competition between plants at a healthy level. Choosing the right plant for the right place makes sense for any garden, but maybe even more so in a vertical garden.

As ornamental objects, not only can the beauty of plants be fascinating, but also the fact that they are alive and always changing. Much work is put into the aesthetic result of the gardens, and part of that is to develop this attracting sensation of life and unpredictability that plants bring within themselves. For the overall design a lot of inspiration is taken from natural shapes and environments where these type of plants have their origin, and in the smaller scale each species is given a context where it can develop it's characteristics. All together creating a unique garden with much content, surprise and variation.

A vertical garden can be installed in almost any location and as a living material, the potential of integrating plants in our urban environments is interesting. Places never though of as possible could be inhabited by plants, like subway stations or other intensely frequented places where horizontal space is difficult to spare.

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE

The supporting structure consists of a 10 mm PVC-board mounted on a stud work. The solid PVC-board is sealed at joints, and an air gap between the board and the wall behind assure a double protection against moisture. On top of the board, a multi-layered, synthetic and highly absorbent felt surface is attached. It gives an even distribution of water over the surface and provides mechanical support for the plants as they grow attached to the felt. A cut is made in the outer felt layer and the plants inserted in between. As a soilless surface, the construction is very light – less than 25 kg/m2. Including plants, but depending of what species that are used, the average surface depth is increased with 200-500 mm.

IRRIGATION

The irrigation system is designed to minimize water consumption. It consists of an automation-unit with equipment for control of nutrient injection and irrigation cycles. When a surface has a variation of sun exposures, the irrigation is divided into segments in order to program it specifically for each part. Within the multi-layered felt surface a drip-tube is integrated. Water consumption varies with heat and sun exposure, but compared to normal green spaces or a lawn, the consumption is normally lower. It averages between 2-5 l/m2/day.

LIGHT

Direct sunlight can deliver over 100.000 lux whereas the average light level in an office is around 300-500 lux. Even if the least light demanding species are used, artificial light is normally necessary indoor. A few species will stay fine at 900 lux, but a slightly increased level at some parts of the surface will broaden the variation of species that can be used. An artificially illuminated surface has shifting light levels, due to the fact that light reduces with the square of the distance from the light source. Some areas might have 3.000 lux and others 900 lux. The plant design is made with this in mind, taking advantage of the higher levels for more demanding and interesting species.

Not only is artificial light necessary for the plants survival and growth, but it also makes the garden more beautiful as it brings out colors and textures of flowers and leaves. A suitable light source is the metal halide. It produces the essential wave-lengths that plants need and is an energy-saving and cost-efficient alternative. Through an initial computer simulation, a study is made to calculate the required number and model of armatures. Finally, the levels are measured on location to fine-tune the setup.

MAINTENANCE

As the supply of the basic needs of plants (light, water and nutrients) are automated, not only does this make for unusually healthy plants - it highly reduces maintenance demand and makes the vertical garden possible to use on high buildings or other places where accessibility is limited.

The garden is designed so that the plants´ natural growth habit is given space, and for different species to have a dynamic co-habitat with adjacent species. During a year, the garden will profit from pruning approximately 1-2 times per year. All plants that are used are perennial, but as the years go by, a few will have to be replaced. These maintenance measures will ensure a long term lush and attractive garden.

THE REALIZATION OF A PROJECT

The initial work includes studies of the local climate and the future location to see what site specific factors there are to consider. This will give the limits for what plants that may be used and is important information in the following survey of nursery stock from those nurseries, foreign or local, that can deliver to the location.

As the general conditions are defined, the design plan is developed in order to attain the desired character. It is during the design phase that the final selection of species is made, based on physical conditions, aesthetic preferences and availability.

At the construction site, the first step is to set up the supporting structure and make necessary preparations for the irrigation. When the technical system is completed with the mounting of the felt and the integrated drip-tube - the surface is ready for plantation. During the whole process a dialogue is kept with the architect and client in order to achieve the desired result.

VERTICAL GARDENS ARE A RELATIVELY NEW FIELD OF WORK, AND AS SUCH IT HAS ROOM FOR A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT. SINCE 2004, VERTICAL GARDEN DESIGN HAS FOCUSED ON THE DESIGN ASPECT OF THESE TYPE OF GARDENS - TO OFFER PROJECTS THAT STAND OUT FROM THE AVERAGE RANGE. THIS INVOLVES A CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SUITABLE PLANTS IN ORDER TO CREATE GARDENS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF LOCATIONS AND CLIMATES.

The company was started by Michael Hellgren, a Swedish landscape architect with studies at SLU in Uppsala, Sweden and École d’architecture et de paysage de Bordeaux, France.

The work with vertical gardens began with the degree thesis Vegetation on vertical surfaces in indoor environments — A model for a technical solution, where the technique, developed by Frenchman Patrick Blanc, was studied. The first vertical garden in Sweden was built in 2004. Since then, projects have been carried out in several European countries.

1. Measure your space Decide where you are going to plant your vertical garden. If you have a bare wall, you have the perfect area to build upward. Using a measuring tape, write down the height and width of the space before you visit a garden center. Keep in mind that your plants will take up some space, so if your walkway is quite narrow, it's recommended that you find somewhere else on your property to garden.
2. Visit the garden center The sales associate at your local garden center will be a key figure in building your vertical garden. Discuss your space, sun exposure, climate and visions to ensure that you create the environment that you imagine for your home. Consult with the sales associate about different options in terms of vertical gardens. You can choose grass panels with embedded seeds that will grow ferns upwards, or you can build a wrought iron trellis with gardening pot interspersed along the wall [source: Meinhold].
3. Construct the modular system Depending on the vertical garden that you choose, you will have different methods of construction. For living-wall kits, it's simply a matter of attaching the dirt panels to one another and securing them to your surface. For trellis type constructions, you may need to hire a gardener to install the structure or any irrigation systems that you might want

It is rather unfair (although somehow expected) that whenever something is lost, stolen or misplaced that it is the Room attendant on who the finger is pointed! After all they are in a vulnerable position, working alone in a guest room surrounded by guest items. But we are not the only ones entering the rooms and things aren’t always missing.

There are a number of things you can do to help avoid suspicion, the simplest and most effective is to work your team in pairs and continually rotate these pairs to avoid collusion. This has a disadvantage that you now have two suspects rather than one. Another is to train your team to be vigilant when in the room, make a mental note of what is lying around so when asked they can confirm the presence or not of an item. Also get your floor supervisors trained in proper search methods, so when it is highlighted that something is missing they make a complete and thorough search of the room, in many cases items are found.

Most hotels now have auditable locks and CCTV in corridor, so team entering and leaving rooms are clocked and the door confirms who when they have entered.  It is worth periodically checking the lock audits to see if there is unnecessary returning to rooms or unneeded visits from bell desk, room service and mini bar staff…repeated visits to rooms may throw up some interesting results.

There has been much talk about thieves making use of clever tech and hacking to override electronic locks… ( BBC article on hotel locks ) check the web and your supplier to ensure yours are safe and train your staff to approach and check suspicious people hovering on guests floors.

Have a reward/recognition system for team that hand in lost and found or highlight guest valuables lying around…follow your hotels procedure to secure them. Often mention at the team briefing or a letter for their file is sufficient. Personally I feel that the policy of letting finders keep the Lost and Found after the specified storage time encourages theft and loss of guest items. Lost and Found should be disposed of by a draw of Lots.

Ensure your teams are trained in regard to opportunist thieves that grab items when passing open doors or distract the attendant whilst in the room. I don’t think any member of staff these days with all the security concerns would open the door of a room for an unidentified guest…that’s a thing of the past.

Keep pockets of uniforms small and few, ensure no personal items are taken to floors when working, have a good spot checking system for laundry, rubbish and karts.

If your staff is being questioned by the Security; ensure that a senior team member sits in on the discussion, it is important for your team to know that you are protective of them.

But most of all make your team aware of their vulnerability that because of their work suspicion will fall on them; the deterrent of what will happen if caught is often the best security of all.

If you have all the best practices in place then it much harder to blame it on the maid!

Watch this video which clearly shows where our room attendants and front office teams needs to follow procedures of security in guest rooms