living wall
design guidelines
www.SolTerraSystems.com
Who we are
SolTerra is a Pacific Northwest based firm specializing in innovative,
sustainable products. With a core focus on solar power, green roofs,
living walls, and LEED Platinum multifamily construction, SolTerra
works with residential and commercial customers throughout
Oregon and Washington. SolTerra, at its core, is a way of thinking
and living. We come from a wide range of backgrounds and skill
sets. We are energetic, knowledgeable, and adventurous individuals
who want to help create the most livable and cutting edge systems
and buildings in the world.
SolTerra is on a mission to demonstrate that renewable energy
and sustainable construction are both feasible and beneficial to
individuals and society alike. We strive to make your ecological
dreams a reality by changing the world, one project at a time!
about VeraWall™
If you’re looking for the perfect way to bring nature into an indoor or outdoor living
space, SolTerra’s VeraWall™ is the answer.
VeraWall™ is an innovative patented, modular, lightweight structure that delivers
simplicity and versatility in a complete living wall system. VeraWall™ is composed of
non-biodegradable geotextile fabric panels connected to create one complete, lush
vertical garden system designed to mimic natural systems.
Why verawall™
•
Hand-crafted in the Pacific Northwest.
•
Requires less water because it is designed as one natural
system instead of hundreds of isolated plantings.
•
Provides exceptional water storage capacity, while
maintaining extraordinary mechanical strength and
puncture resistance.
•
Moves moisture throughout the entire wall, unlike most
living walls which are made of self-contained plastic pots.
•
Allows plants to share nutrients and microbial activity.
•
Incredibly lightweight at a saturated weight of 10 lbs/sq.ft.,
compared to competitors at 25 lbs/sf.ft.
•
Short installation time provides instant green to any space.
•
Plant selection can respond to the local climate and site
conditions.
•
Design flexibility to fit the client’s goals and needs.
•
Can be seamlessly integrated with your siding, signage or
other design aesthetics.
Benfits of VeraWall™
Aesthetics
Air Quality Improvement
Living walls can turn every wall into a living work
of art, enhancing the aesthetic appeal.
The vegetation planted in our living walls provide
oxygen, absorb air pollutants and intercept
particulate matter. This means you have cleaner
air to breathe and less dust.
Building Protection
Living walls help protect buildings by reducing
temperature fluctuations, similar to how green
roofs protect roofing membranes. Our patented
VeraWall™ system is mounted in a way that
allows air flow behind the system allowing the
entire system to breath.
Health and Wellness
Many of us living and working in cities are
surrounded by concrete, traffic, noise and
pollution, which has a major impact on our
physical and mental wellness. Living walls and
plants soften this hardscape, acting as a tonic
to ease stress and fatigue. Living walls provide a
connection to nature.
Noise Reduction
Living walls are a great way to reduce noise
pollution. The vegetated system reflects, refracts
and absorbs acoustic energy. Green walls built
on the exteriors of buildings do the same.
Similarly, vegetated walls reduce echoes and
sound pollution in interior spaces as well.
Marketability
Living walls make a sustainability statement for
all businesses. They are a marketable green
feature that can increase the value of your home
or building. Studies show that growing plants in
or around buildings instantly increase value by
up to 20%. 1
Planting & Design
oger, Main and Vine Planting Plan. 75 sq.ft.
Color Symbol Qty Plant Name
40 Hoya carnosa, Porcelain Flower
Planting
flexibility.
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• Pixie, Flowering
plants
28 Peppermonia Pixie Peppermonia
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23
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47
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37
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7
25 Selaginella sp., Spike Moss 3
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• Native Plants
• sp., Habitat
Plants
Nematanthus Goldfish Plant
• Evergreen
Philodedron •cordatum, Vine
GrassesS/weetheart shrubs can
all be used
• Indoor Plants
Nematanthus sp., Goldfish Plant 'Black Gold'
Patterns
are possible.
Accommodate dry and wet plants (location on wall).
Asplenium di., Austral Gem Fern
Indoor or Outdoor planting options.
240 TOTAL
We have a team of in-house landscape
architects, horticulturists, and installers
whom will work together to customize a
design specific to your project.
Joe Arnold Lofts Living Wall
Mountain With River Concept
Case Studies
Thrasher Reed Portland, OR Main & Vine Gig Harbor, WA
The Thrasher Reed living wall was installed
to discourage graffiti on wall situated in a
high traffic location. The installation turned a
nuisance wall into a vegetated outdoor
focal point.
This wall was installed to promote health and
wellness in the launching of a new health store
brand by Kroger. Irrigation water that runs
through VeraWall is used to irrigate the plants
in the planter. We installed a planter at the base
of the living wall as clever way to hide required
irrigation equipment.
Size: 75 sq ft
Height: 10’
Plantings: 256 plants
Size: 75 sq ft
Height: 12’
Plantings: 240 plants
Plant types: Ferns,
Sweet flag, Elephant
ears. London’s
Pride, Salal
Plant types: Ferns,
Moss, Wax Plant,
Goldfish Plant,
Peppermonia, P.
cordatum
Lutron Seattle. WA
The Lutron installation was a retrofit of an
unused water feature. We customized the
installation to fit around the siding and
incorporated company signage.
Size: 100 sq ft
Height: 6’
Plantings: 256 plants
Plant types:
Philodendron
varieties, Wire Plant,
Northern Joy
Case Studies Continued
UW: Gould Hall Seattle, WA The Woodlawn Portland, OR OMSI Portland. OR
The University of Washington VeraWall was
the first mobile living wall installed in the
United States. Environmental Science students
monitor bird nesting and flight activity on the
wall. This system is irrigated through rainwater
collection.
The Woodlawn’s VeraWalls are the largest
exterior living wall display on the West Coast.
The living walls were used to put nature on
display as well as earn additional LEED credits.
This system uses a cistern to collect rainwater
and irrigate the plants.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
installed VeraWall as a learning tool. It provided
a cooling effect and point of interest for hot,
public courtyard.
Size: 160 sq ft
Height: (2) 10’
Plantings: 519 plants
Size: 1110 sq ft
Height: 45’
Plantings: 3746 plants
Size: 200 sq ft
Height: 20’
Plantings: 320 plants
Plant types: 22
different species. 70%
native to the PNW.
Plant types: 34%
species native to the
PNW
Plant types: Elephant
ears. Hebe shrubs,
Geraniums, Bramble
Maintenance & Warranty
Living Wall Warranty
We warrant all non-living components for two years. A 90-day warranty and
maintenance contract for the approved vegetation shall be provided with the initial
contract. This will cover all aspects of the vegetation and system performance.
Wall/Planting Maintenance Requirements
Our living wall maintenance agreement includes an average of 4-8 visits per year
depending on wall complexity. Access for equipment is required for larger walls.
SolTerra provides and installs remote monitoring on all projects to decrease
visits.
Next Steps: Preparing for a consultation
PLANNING
Design intent.
Project timeline.
Plant Selection.
Process with Owner/Architect/ Designer.
Plant Selection determined by:
• Geographic location
• Wall orientation
• Interior/ Exterior location
• Lighting levels
Contact Us
Thank you!
SolTerra
800.865.9005
www.SolTerraSystems.com
WA CCB License: SOLTESI921PG
OR CCB License: 187974w
1.Benefits of Green Planting http://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/resources/benefits-of-green-plants/
2. Miller, Norm G., Dave Pogue, Quiana D. Gough, and Susan M. Davis. “Green Buildings and Productivity”. JOSRE. Vol. 1. No. 1. 2009
3.Ulrich, R. S. “View through a window may influence recovery from surgery”Science, Vol. 224. 1984
4 Moss, M. J. Cook, K. Wesnes, and P. Duckett. “Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in health adults.” Division of Psychology, University of Northumbria. International Journal of
Neuroscience. Jan; 113(1): 15-38. 2003.
5.Walch, Jeffrey M., Bruce S. Rabin, Richard Day, Jessica N. Williams, Krissy Choi, and James D. Kang. “The Effect of Sunlight on Postoperative Analgesic Medication Use.”