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Living walls don't always need high tech planting systems or trays - in fact, sometimes all you need is some scaffolding and hanging bags. If you don't believe us, check out this green wall in Skien, Norway. Constructed in 2010 by MMW Architects ^[6] in collaboration with Gaia Arkitekter ^[7], this crafty wall makes use of bamboo poles, large hanging bags and plastic twist ties. Over time the plants began to climb the scaffolding to create a more densely vegetated wall filled with beautiful plants - some of which are even edible!

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MMW Architects designed this green wall installation as a stunt project called Skien’s MerSmak-festival ^[8] in the back yard of the Lundetangen Pub. They constructed the bamboo scaffold system, measuring 12m x 6m x 0.3m and attached it to an existing concrete wall with plastic strips. This semi-permanent installation could easily be removed whenever. Although bamboo is not a common material for Norway, it is quite versatile, very rigid, resistant to rot and completely reusable for future installations.

After the scaffolding was constructed, the team planted large black hanging bags with humulus, parthenocissus, herbs and strawberry. The bags were then attached to the scaffolding with more plastic strips. As the plants settled into their new home, they crept up and grew onto the scaffolding and over time covered more and more of the supporting structure. The team also constructed a smaller installation during the festival that was used to grow food plants for the pub. This low impact, inexpensive, easy-to-construct green wall system could easily be used to create a vertical garden to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit.

+ MMW Architects ^[9]

Images ©Lone Sjøli and Maiken Seglem