Green walls in office spaces – why, where, and how?

Boring and dreary offices are becoming a thing of the past. Organizations and small business owners are paying much more attention to the fit-out of office space. A sustainable and comfortable working environment is an important need for every user of the space. The arrangement can take various forms, but some aspects have a positive effect on all employees, in every industry. These certainly include plants in the office, which not only improve the aesthetic perception, but also affect efficiency and well-being.

WHY DO COMPANIES INVEST IN FIT-OUTS WITH GREEN WALLS?

Apart from the fact that a green wall is a visually interesting decorative element (the larger the composition, the greater the effect), in recent years there has been a strong emphasis on the positive impact of greenery on the health and well-being of employees. A vertical garden allows dozens or even hundreds of plants to be placed on a wall surface, thus offering two key benefits. First, we use a space that would otherwise remain unused, saving floor space that could be used for workstations, furniture, and office equipment. Second, we place plants in a cluster, concentrating many specimens, which increases the intensity of the impact on the eyes, brain, nervous system, but also the overall perception of the room. The perception of a company that decides to have plant walls in its office also changes. Office spaces filled with greenery on such a scale and in such a form are perceived as modern and prestigious. A company that introduces live plants sends a signal that it appreciates good design, the natural beauty of nature, and cares about the needs of its employees by arranging an office that is not only functional but also friendly: comfortable, with a pleasant design, or even a cozy finish. Green walls ensure optimal air humidity, improve air quality, and reduce stress, which is why users of such an office feel good in it.

WHERE TO PLACE A VERTICAL GARDEN IN THE OFFICE?

The starting point is not so much the space we have at our disposal, but rather the vegetation system – it can either limit us or give us opportunities. Flexible – it will allow us to fill a small office or service point with greenery, as well as a large or unusually laid out space. The ease and reasonable cost of plant maintenance is also of great importance. After all, a green wall is much more than a few pots on a windowsill. The impact of natural vegetation lies in its proportions, so when a developer, designer, or contractor proposes green walls for an office, they should suggest a solution that is beneficial in the long term: simple and inexpensive to maintain.

The basis for 4Nature System solutions are modules with plants, and this modularity allows for an exceptionally flexible and, at the same time, highly customized approach to green fit-outs. Thanks to the modules, we can fill a wall with plants almost 100% or arrange a fragment of it: a strip above the workstations, the interior of an office kitchen, a relaxation area, an entrance hall, or a reception area. The project, carried out in cooperation with roślinnik, is an example of a giant 4Nature Wall with a composition of many specimens concentrated in one place. The structure with modules was filled with as many as 480 plants! Philodendrons, monsteras, arrowroots, and epipremnums of various varieties were placed side by side, creating a dense mosaic of species and colors.

4Nature Wall in progress roślinnik Photo: roślinnik

For comparison, the same system was used to arrange the reception area in one of Warsaw’s office buildings – there, the plants climb with apparent carelessness, although this asymmetry was, of course, well thought out.

4Nature Wall in the lobby of one of Warsaw’s office buildings Fot. Kinga Skalik

The 4Nature Vitis system, on the other hand, fits perfectly into the intimate, minimalist office design. It would seem that the space under the ceiling is functionally wasted – but not for our modules, which fill the empty spaces on the light-colored wall like puzzle pieces. Plants became the leading motif, and the interior retained its lightness while gaining distinct green accents.

4Nature Vitis minimalist in the office Tetris Fot. Kinga Skalik

HOW TO WATER IT LATER?

Automatically. The pipe system will supply water from the installation as needed. Properly placed sensors and technologies developed by us will adjust the amount of water, protecting plants from drying out or overwatering. If there is not enough light in the room, we also have a solution for that – remote-controlled lighting. The 4Nature System is a complete solution – green walls and vertical gardens with IoT technology are largely self-sufficient, thanks to carefully selected species, selected specimens, and automated care. That is why they work so well in any green fit-out, regardless of the office space available to the architect or contractor in the project.