Paradise no more: Great Britain’s first living wall has died after three years shading the front facade of a DSDHA-designed £1.5 million children’s center north of London. The 30 species of flora growing on the steel mesh casing are now, as Architects Journal reports, just a “host of brown, wilting plants.” If we were the DSDHA principals, we’d put the blame on the landscape architects. Or the fact that trends in England hardly ever last longer than three years (punk, Bridget Jones, Brit Pop). Read on for before and after shots.
Before: a lush, hydroponic garden “creating a new landscape that inspires and educates.” (Photos: DSHDA)
After: dead as a doornail.
Via Architects Journal.
6 Responses
how sad, there is a hotel in Vancouver, BC Canada that is similar, its called the Sylvia Hotel, its beautiful and still "living".
Seems like a great idea, I wonder why the plants died in the first place? How hard could it be to maintain?
look at the grass… from the looks of it no one has been there in months
What a shame … like Matt, I wonder why they were allowed to die?
I wonder if the irrigation system as "value engineered" out of the project?
there is a hotel in front of Green Park London that has the same thing. and it is looking great lets see how long it will last…