The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors. Spending that much time inside makes us feel disconnected from the outside world, affecting everything from our productivity to mental health. Not to mention physical health concerns ranging from poor circulation to airborne contaminants.
One method of rebuilding our connection to nature is by using living elements. Live moss wellness walls utilize one of our oldest plant species to improve the visual appearance of any interior environment and boost your overall well-being.
During the 1980s, American biologist Edward O. Wilson popularized the term “biophilia” in relation to how we innately seek connections with nature. Biophilic design emphasizes the way elements connect and interact with each other in ways that stimulate our productivity and well-being. Creating such an environment requires more than increasing natural lighting or sticking a plant in a corner.
Enter moss.
Vía Wikimedia Commons / User W.carter, Licensed under CC-BY 4.0One of our oldest and most resilient plant species, with nearly 15,000 varieties, moss lacks roots, requiring it to seek all of its nutrients from the air. It grows on virtually any surface. It can survive in a dormant state for years and revive when exposed to moisture. It helps stabilize the ground and is used to prevent flooding and soil erosion. In traditional Japanese gardens, moss creates serene, tranquil spaces.
In an indoor environment, a live moss wall is ideal for adding healthy green space. Like other forms of living walls, they create a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere and a pleasant smell to any entrance, foyer, or office. They have been shown to reduce stress, elevate moods, and improve concentration and other cognitive functions. In healthcare settings, living walls have been shown to lower patient anxiety and stimulate pleasure receptors in the brain, aiding patient recovery.
Vía Torange, Licensed under CC-BY 4.0Article by AEC Daily
Learn more about this topic in AEC Daily’s online courses, in association with Moss Walls – Live Eco-Systems. The course will describe the philosophies behind moss walls, including a discussion of biophilic design. Learn how these installations can contribute to earning LEED and WELL credits. Components of a self-contained moss wall are outlined, as well as care instructions, and suggestions on incorporating lighting and water features.
This article was first published in Arch Daily and is republished with permission.
Green Building Africa promotes the need for net carbon zero buildings and cities in Africa. We are fiercely independent and encourage outlying thinkers to contribute to the #netcarbonzero movement. Climate change is upon us and now is the time to react in a more diverse and broader approach to sustainability in the built environment. We challenge architects, property developers, urban planners, renewable energy professionals and green building specialists. We also challenge the funding houses and regulators and the role they play in facilitating investment into green projects. Lastly, we explore and investigate new technology and real-time data to speed up the journey in realising a net carbon zero environment for our children.
.jpg?1570806391)
