Thursday, April 15, 2010

Up, Up, and Away: The Green Walls Revolution


Kari Elwell Katzander

Up, Up, and Away: The Green Walls Revolution


Kari Elwell Katzander on one of the hot trends in urban horticulture. Using examples from both residential and commercial designs that she’s installed, Kari focuses on key issues, including the implications of horizontal design, the types of structural materials needed, keeping the process “green,” and which plants are most successful in a green wall setting, including edible plants. Kari will be joined by horticulturists Anthony Caggiano and Melissa Daniels of Plant Connection, Inc. to more fully explore all the technical aspects of building and establishing green walls.

For 25 years, Kari Elwell Katzander has been owner and principal designer of Mingo Design, LLP. In addition to traditional garden design, Kari has created commercial and residential green roofs and green walls, most recently completing the design of a green wall for PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, referred to as the largest soil-based living wall in North America. She is currently developing a subsidiary of Mingo Design to focus on serving the needs of restaurants who wish to develop space-effective ways of growing fresh produce.