The "largest living wall" in America is apparently located in the posh neighborhood of Beverly Hills. The vegetation surrounds the Gardenhouse residential building which was developed by Chinese firm MAD. The idea behind the green-forward aesthetic was to create the illusion that the house is actually "a village on top of a hill." The silhouette cuts close as the development presents 18 gabled residencies that enclose an inner courtyard. This is the first completed project by MAD in the US.
The "largest living wall" is composed out of "native planting, drought-tolerant succulents, and vine." The Gardenhouse residency is not only impressive in terms of aesthetic but it also has allowed MAD to experiment with its "Shanshui City concept." Through it, the firm tries to "translate Chineses landscape paintings, known as shan-shui, into architecture."
Image Credit: Nic Lehoux, Darren Bradley
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Living Wall Trend
- Green-forward buildings will become increasingly popular as consumers prioritize environmental sustainability.
- Shanshui-inspired Architecture
- Incorporating natural elements into building designs, such as native planting and vine, will become more common in attempts to emulate traditional shan-shui paintings.
- Gabled Residency Trend
- Residences with gabled roofs and inner courtyards will become more sought-after as consumers aim to create aesthetic and functional use of outdoor spaces.
Sectors Adopting This
- Architecture
- Architecture firms will need to incorporate more sustainable, green-forward designs that prioritize environmental consciousness and the surrounding landscape.
- Real Estate
- Housing developers will capitalize on the aesthetic appeal of living walls and courtyard designs to attract environmentally-conscious buyers.
- Landscaping
- Improved native planting and drought-tolerant succulent technology will become more important to the future of green-forward building initiatives.
