- GREENFUTURE -
PLANTS AS “LIVING WALLS”: AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL PARTITIONS

Living partitions expand the possibilities of designing both indoor and outdoor spaces, combining aesthetic value with practical benefits. They allow creating private zones and separating work or living areas without heavy constructions, maintaining lightness and airiness in the interior. Plants purify the air from dust and harmful substances, enrich the space with oxygen, reduce stress levels, and increase productivity. Dense compositions also partially absorb noise and help regulate indoor temperature, keeping spaces cool in summer and warm in winter. With these qualities, living walls are not only a decorative element but also a functional tool that improves microclimate and overall well-being.

There are many ways to incorporate living walls into interiors and landscaping projects. For offices and public spaces, vertical green walls with automated irrigation and lighting are often used, emphasizing a modern style and creating unique visual accents. Mobile modules and rolling planters allow flexible space planning, adapting to changing needs. In residential interiors, hanging systems with trailing plants create a “green ceiling” effect, while outdoor and garden living walls are formed from shrubs, climbing plants, and evergreen species, serving as natural barriers against wind, dust, and unwanted views. Designers often combine different methods to achieve a harmonious blend of decoration and functionality, making it possible to execute projects of any scale and complexity.

Almaty’s climate, with bright sunlight, temperature fluctuations, and dry air, requires a careful selection of plants for living walls. Indoors, shade-tolerant and low-maintenance species such as chlorophytum, scindapsus, monstera, dracaena, and decorative ferns thrive, providing a rich green backdrop throughout the year. Terraces and balconies benefit from planters with aromatic herbs like mint, rosemary, and thyme, which add both visual appeal and fragrance. Outdoor spaces are well-suited for clematis, Virginia creeper, ivy, boxwood, and juniper, which are resilient to local climate conditions and remain decorative year-round. Proper irrigation and drainage systems, including automated drip irrigation, ensure the longevity of plants while minimizing maintenance efforts.