Undulating Living Facade at Seoul Shop
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany 
on 12.18.07
Herbaceous perennials grow from both the facade and interior walls at fashion retailer Ann Demeulemeester's Korea flagship in Seoul. Designed by Korean-based architecture firm Mass Studies, the four-level structure is a grassy oasis of nature in an otherwise gray and dense city. The perennials (clover, says one source) are planted into something Mass Studies bills a "geo-textile." According to Pavingexpert.com, this is a "woven, non-woven or knitted, permeable sheets, usually, but not exclusively, non-biodegradable."
Aesthetically and physically, the structure is a vibrant breath of fresh air--plants are a natural air purifier after all. But no word on exactly how environmentally friendly the design is. ::Mass Studies Via ::Design Boom ::Theme Also see :: Greening Your Roof Just Got Easier ::Temporary Living Wall for Construction Site ::Guide to Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls ::ELT Indoor Living Wall Kits
Top, bottom: Images courtesy of Design Boom. Middle: Image courtesy of Theme.
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I hope it turns out to be environmentally friendly - it looks stunning!
"woven, non-woven or knitted, permeable sheets, usually, but not exclusively, non-biodegradable."
what exactly does that mean??
That looks so cool.
The plant is Pachysandra Terminalis - a perennial that grows in Korea and Japan- Not clover for sure.
"woven or knitted" was just code for " I don't have a f*&%n clue how this was done. As Minsuk Cho, principal of Massive Studies explains, the growing medium is coconut fiber. They must have imported it from somewhere in south Asia...they have made flexible mesh boxes containing the growing medium which are then fastened on to the cladding.
for more on the Anne Demeulemeester's store check out the latest issue of Mark, with a kick ass environmentally unfriendly cover.
This article contains what information was available at the time - for more check out my article in Interior Design magazine. http://www.interiordesign.net/article/CA6555386.html