RIYADH: Once a staple of ancient civilizations, green walls — also known as living walls — are making a comeback as a modern solution to some of the planet’s most pressing urban challenges.
Dating back thousands of years, they once served both aesthetic and practical functions, providing shade, cooling and even food.
The concept received a 20th-century reboot when French botanist Patrick Blanc introduced a hydroponic method of vertical gardening that eliminated the need for soil.
His innovation inspired a new wave of architects and designers to reimagine how plants could be integrated into buildings, inside and out.
During the past century, a French botanist, Patrick Blanc, introduced a new way to grow plants vertically by using a soil-free, hydroponic method. His creative method sparked interest among architects and designers at the time, who began to explore its decorative and environmental possibilities. (AFP photo)
