The massive living wall stands at nearly 30 feet in height and stretches to a width of 150 feet. David Brenner, Founder and Principle of Habitat Horticulture, designed the SFMOMA Living Wall as a natural extension of the California landscape. Since the green wall is located in a fairly shaded area, Brenner drew inspiration from the understory plant community of California’s woodlands and created a highly textured planting plan evocative of the forest floors of Mount Tamalpais, Muir Woods, and the East Bay Regional Parks. The final design comprises 19,442 plants with 37 different plant species, 21 of which are native to California and the San Francisco Bay Area.
“To fully experience the wall, walk the length of the terrace as if it were a trail within a forest,” said Brenner. “The path offers the viewer a multitude of intimate discoveries of fragrance, color, and texture in the foliage. Next, look at the wall in profile, where the various dimensions of plant forms are showcased and where the undulating white facade of the building is embraced by the soft textures and lushness of the plants. It is where nature and architecture meet and become one.”
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The living wall offers a multi-sensory experience that attracts not only visitors, but also local fauna like birds, bees, and butterflies. Certain plants will undergo seasonal changes and create an ever-changing play of texture and colors. The felt used to hold the plants is made from recycled water bottles and recycled polyester. To save on water usage, condensate water—a byproduct of the museum’s air conditioning units—and stormwater are recycled for use as irrigation. Any runoff from the wall is also captured and reused to reduce water use by 60%.
+ Habitat Horticulture
Images © Henrik Kam, courtesy SFMOMA
