Over the past half century there has been a steady migration of rural populations to urban centers. As a result, air pollution has increased and green spaces have diminished. In response to this, urban and rural residents are incorporating living green walls (also referred to as vertical gardens or living walls) into their home and work environments to improve their quality of life with the intrinsic benefits of nature.
A Multitude of Benefits
Living green walls are natural air-filters. They create a cleaner, more invigorating environment that can aid in better health. Much like traditional houseplants, living green walls also metabolize harmful toxins while releasing oxygen.
Interior and exterior living green walls function to cool the air in the warm summer months by a process known as “evapotranspiration,” making living green walls natural insulators. Exterior living green walls can reduce wall surface temperatures by as much as 50 degrees °F, resulting in significant energy savings and air conditioning costs. The winter months see the additional advantage of living green walls adding to building insulation, thus reducing energy costs related to heating.
On top of this, living green walls can also reduce noise pollution. One of the lesser-known but incredible benefits of living green walls is that they can reduce noise levels in buildings. The vegetation in a living green wall ‘naturally’ blocks high frequency sounds while the supporting structure can help to diminish low frequency noise.
Living green walls also have psychological benefits. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology in 2015 suggests that interaction with indoor plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress. Plants have also been shown to increase feelings of wellness and fast-track recovery in hospital patients. A living wall adds contentment from nature which reminds us of the renewal of spring and the growth of summer –it’s this feeling of life that lifts the spirit.
While living green walls are undeniably beneficial, their installation and maintenance costs can be a deterrent. Since the plants are living, they require food, water, and regular pruning and replacement to remain viable; this can be costly both financially and in terms of time management. So how do we capture the health and wellness benefits of a living wall while eliminating its energy, water, and time consumption? Kelley Anderson has the answer.
Kelley Anderson Uses Moss Art to Heal
Kelley Anderson has experienced the healing effect of immersion in nature and acknowledges that we do not often get the chance to realize the therapeutic power it provides.
It was this love and passion for nature that drove Kelley Anderson to create Art Botanica. “I have personally experienced nature’s healing power and I feel compelled to bring that energy to others through my art,” she explains, speaking of her botanical installations created using naturally preserved moss. She believes this is the place where healing can begin because when you reconnect with nature, you can reinvigorate your spirit.
Based in Los Angeles, Kelley creates custom pieces for home and office spaces, from conception to installation, In fact, a new University of Technology Sydney study shows a 30-60% reduction in staffs’ stress levels and negative feelings when plants were present in their offices. By seeking to immerse others in nature through her botanical art, Kelley aims to elicit an emotional response, increasing awareness of the oneness and connectedness we share with nature and with others.
Kelley’s art can be viewed around the globe including installations in Dubai, Australia, Europe, and even India. She recently completed a 75 square foot wall behind the bar of Bellwether, a new farm-to-table restaurant in New York.
We’ve all experienced the peace and serenity that the wilderness can bring. Art Botanica captures that positive, healing, and peaceful energy, and brings it into our living spaces so we may reap its rewards indefinitely.
Unlike vertical gardens that require intensive water systems and light, Kelley’s botanical art is naturally preserved to maintain its vividness and vibrancy with no upkeep or maintenance. The works are hypo-allergenic and release no spores or pollen so you can enjoy their rich colors and textures for decades.
