The Living Walls on San Francisco's Embarcadero
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. 
on 11.23.08
Credit: Pelli Clarke Pelli
In a blog post on design applications of water resource management, New York Times design blogger Allison Arrieff included a photograph of a glass office building currently under construction in San Francisco with veritable living walls. Intrigued, we decided to research the project at 110 Embarcadero, and learned it belongs to the design firm Pelli Clarke Pelli.
We were especially interested to see the building's use of walls alive with creeping, curling vines. As Arrieff points out, living walls are not only beautiful and seasonal, but they also absorb and filter storm water, digest nasty particulates, improve outdoor and air quality, and regulate the building's temperature to lower heating and cooling bills.
For the 110 Embarcadero building, planters housed in a trellis-like mesh will be attached between each floor. Each planter will have a variety of vine species to ensure that something will be in bloom all year long. The building aspires to receive a LEED Platinum rating, an award that has never been given to an office building. According to an article earlier this year in the San Francisco Chronicle, the building will open in 2009, and we can't wait.
More on Living Walls:
Guide to Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls
All in all it’s Just Another Plant in the Wall
Living, Green Wall Fends Off Encroaching Desert
Green Walls Growing Everywhere
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"...an award that 'as' never been given" ... please proofread.
Also, the building looks pretty incredible. I'd love to see more buildings like this built.
This is not an article it's an advertisement.
Exhibit 1:
"one of the most creative green buildings in the world in development right now."
Really? There are some incredible projects being explored around the world in areas of green design such as efficiency, materials and building systems. But this project pushes zero boundaries, it paves no new paths.
Exhibit 2:
Even a cursory look at the building shows that it is floor to ceiling glass. The much touted greenery only occurs at the floor line, covering the structure.
The heating and cooling costs of this building will be significant. Covering the structure in greenery may make it look greener, but the end result will be little different than a conventional material.
Why is there so much glass?
If you're using so much glass, where are the sun shades?
How about some high-albido awnings?
In short, this article, and building, fall closer to green washing than being green. The sooner we collectively grow a backbone and tell architects that sticking a green roof/wall on a decidedly inefficient design the better off we'll all be.
If there is one thing Cesar can do well it is marketing. And this building was designed for exactly that.
Where is Lloyd?