Green architecture is really hot right now and after about a decade and a half’s worth of exploring the ecology of organic greenroof architecture in North America, greenwalls are the newest darlings in the green building world here and abroad.

More than just “green bling,” as one proponent told me recently, greenwalls add many benefits on their own to a building envelope.    While creating a lush and deliciously tactile  tapestry of living plants, they offer a showy feast for the eyes that are much more visually accessible than many of  their roofing counterparts.

I was asked to present on the subject last November for a local Atlanta USGBC group by Julia Gray Hines, ASID, RID, LEED AP ID+C of Chartreuse Inc. Interior Design Studio, and of course I  propsed our Green Wall Editor, George Irwin, too.   Julia suggested Atlanta City Hall  as a possible location, and I knew it was perfect because of their beautiful greenroof and the willingness of  its  resident (and entertaining)  landscape architect and greenroof guru, Bill Brigham, ASLA, to share his experiences.

Learn about early  influential designers such as the ground-breaking Austrian painter and architect Friedensreich  Hundertwasser, and more recent innovator French botanist  Patric Blanc and his Le Mur Vegetal, seen  above left  at the Musée du Quai Branly,  and see how designers are  pushing the limits in my compilation of the Top Hot Trends in  International Greenroof and Greenwall Design.   I’ll also provide a sneak preview of the Greenroofs.com Top 10 List for 2010 (which I’ll present along with our Design Editor, Haven Kiers, in Vancouver, B.C. at the upcoming 8th Annual CitiesAlive! Conference later this year).

Understand the differences between green façades and living walls from George Irwin, the many new systems available today –  along with options for growing media (including none at all!)  – as well as the new and exciting economic and social benefits and opportunities for urban vertical farming.

Presented on Thursday, July 22, 2010  by the USGBC Atlanta Events & Education Committee, you’ll receive 1.5 LEED Credential Maintenance Units offered, and the cost is an extremely affordable $10 for members and $20 for non-members!

Registration is open from 3:30-4:30 pm at Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue SW Atlanta, GA 30303, on the fifth floor Cafeteria where  Bill will be on hand to show off the Atlanta City Hall Pilot Greenroof, the first public municipal non-irrigated vegetated roof, and then George and I will  speak from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.

Come join us next week for the USGBC  Georgia Chapter  “Green Walls, Red Tomatoes and Urban Farming,” a fun and informative afternoon  on the surging proliferation of  these architecturally  important, and sexy,  planted façades!   For more info, download the PDF here.

See you ~ Linda V.