On the Green with indoorlandscaping
By NunoXEI • Jul 11th, 2008 • Category: Interviews
1. Can you introduce yourself and give a little background information on indoorandscaping?
My name is Andreas Schmidt and I studied chemistry and toxicology at Munster, Germany. I was inspired to start up indoorlandscaping after working with a Frankfurt-based gardener named HC Claussen while planting 48 magnolia and 24 quercus trees indoors at the New Trade Fair, Leipzig by gmp architects, Hamburg. It created a really green natural impact in this dramatic glass architecture.
indoorlandscaping was finally founded in 1998. I created the business name with intentions of expressing the goal–designing living indoor landscapes–luckily in English as we are operating worldwide now.
Our multidisciplinary team includes designers–interior, lighting, communication–as well as landscape architects, horticultural engineers and biologists.
2. How does indoorlandscaping envision a work from start to finish? Does it take the architectural space in mind first or does it think about the green concepts first?
The best way to approach a project is to continuously be in communication with all team members (architect, client, engineers etc.) from the beginning to the end. Integrative planning is a must.
Working with a competitive edge makes a lot of sense for us as well because then you can really pursue green concepts. For example, the work of the London and Malaysia-based “green architect” Ken Yeang is such a green-concept-first kind of guy! Luckily we are already in touch!
3. Many people are accustomed to nature being on the outside of their working spaces–you know, the place you wish to be the whole time you’re working in your cubical–How does your company help bring the two spaces together effectively?
That’s indoorlandscaping’s goal: Bringing nature back to humans! Working 8-hours and more indoors it’s a welcomed treat to see green, smell the fragrance, feel the seasons…
4. You guys have done work all over the world. What is the work your company is most proud of to date and can we all see some pictures or a website with the work?
We are really excited in the world’s direction concerning green awareness and sustainable ideas. Green architecture, cradle-to-cradle design, organic food; these are all really important issues for this planet.
Last year we started a co-operation with Chicago-based architects Perkins + Will. Aki Knezevic, one of the principals hired us for their project for the Bank of America HQs–this was a really amazing job! Communication with the Perkins + Will team was increadible.
Our work is routinely featured in press releases all around the globe. You can find extracts on our website: www.indoorlandscaping.com
5. Your Greenwall project is remarkably creative. What inspired this design and can you tell us a little about the concept… and to satisfy my curiosity, how the heck do you “water the lawn” so to speak?
Greenwall was inspired by a vertical growing strategy in nature. It was a project request from Siemens, they wanted to have a “living wallpaper” with a real architectural feel. Small-leaved subtropical shrubs are cultivated in a specially designed foam and are irrigated with a fully-automated process via absorption starting at the top and gravity does the rest—simple but an extremely effective design by our horticultural engineer Bernhard Haering. We are extremely honoured that our green wall system will receive the international “Focus Green 2008 Gold” design award soon!
6. What are the benefits of having a Greenwall in your office space? What are there cost benefits? Health benefits? Environmental benefits? Can you give us some details as to any or all of these (or others I missed)?
Energy and Cost Saving / Environmental Benefits:
- evaporative cooling (summer) via Greenwall – max. 3.8 litres / sq.m / day (cooling needs 3 times more energy than heating)
- evaporation rate 1.8 – 3.8 is controllable because medium evaporates 90%, plants only 10%
- 100% germ-free (certified) via passive adiabatic cold evaporation
- higher energy transport (winter) via humidified air, reduction of 3 degrees Celsius
Effects on Humans / Health Benefits:
- psychological effects
- green = happy, natural, low-stress atmosphere
- feel more comfortable
- feel more secure (in non-familiar surroundings like airports)
- biological effects
- lower respiration rates are necessary in humidified air
- lower evaporative chill on skin vs. sick building syndrome (important for staff)
- dust absorption
- sound absorption
- In general: Creating a good climate for plants = very good for humans
7. What comments are your clients saying–or those who interact with your green indoor spaces for that matter?
All architects who we work with commend our work for being fresh and innovative with a green perspective. They appreciate our vision.
Our clients are naturally business-oriented and always think about the cost of long-term maintenance. We especially have to explain the energy/cost saving benefits. At the end of the day many ideas are appreciated when financial savings are made!
The staff in the buildings are ecstatic! They say, “Oh, I have a similar plant in my garden. I love it!” They enjoy having green around them; it makes their day less dull.
8. Any final thoughts you’d like to leave behind?
Just one: Grow it!
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NunoXEI is Co-Founder of TheGreenRocket.com and self proclaimed internet-surfing-guru. You can find his personal blog at NunoXEI.com, the home of his podcast, The Lowdown, his comic-related properties and his webcomic, Republic Domain.
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Kind of on topic, have a listen to Bicyclmark’s podcast about vertical farming. Have a listen to it here