When comparing the vertical garden at Anthropologie and Westfield Shopping Centre in London there is very little doubt that it is Anthropologie who has the fairest vertical garden of all.
Why?
Context.
Anthroplogie’s living wall works with its context.
Anthropogie is like an explosion of joy – every element is orchastrated. The plants of the green wall are repeated around the store. The most extravagant plastic fantastic chandeliers are positioned to contrast with the natural calm foliage. The dynamic is brilliant. The vertical garden is used both as a backdrop and as a centre stage act.
Meanwhile the dreary old Westfield green wall is trying to maintain a showstopping act with little support from its surrounds. A lonesome green wall stuck in a bleak landscape that is designed to be read by a motorist at speed, not a shopper who is walking . For photos and discussion on Westfield’s green wall click here.
Anthropolgie’s green wall creates a tapestry of colour and form. Plants are growing at various rates creating a fabulous three dimensional form to the wall. Leaf colour is also varied. Meanwhile over at Westfield we have a green wall probably 20 times the length of Anthropologie’s yet the planting creates a block of green with little variation. Granted the plants may change with the seasons but upon my snap shot visit – it appeared fairly dull to me.
Perhaps guriella gardeners you could dismantle the green wall at Westfield shopping centre, place it on the M25 to replace the hideous noise walls and in its new context Westfield’s green wall design may work.
Anthropologie’s green wall was designed by BioTecture.
It appears the green wall at Anthropologie has a richer mix of plant materials than the one at Westfield. But I’m not sure that I agree about the context. It seems to me that the Westfield wall greatly improves what would otherwise be a rather bleak environment. A paved outdoor area would seem an entirely appropriate context. Although I love the Magpie chandeliers
http://magpiehomefineware.mfbiz.com/ I’ve always found the juxtaposition of plants & plastic a bit jarring. Hurrah! for green walls wherever they appear.
hey thanks jordan for the info on magpie design – they are brilliant –
re: the westfield wall – yes the green wall does add value but the remainder of the area is terribly uninspiring – the wall just looks lonely- it needs more warmth – acres of paving could be broken