Reader\'s Digest AU NZ 03.2020

attheNationalCentreforScientific

ResearchinParisforover 25 years.

Hislivinglaboratoryishishome–

indoorsandout,itswallsarehometo

anecosystemofbirds,lizards, frogs

andover 250 plantspecies.

THEGREENWALL

Blancisinspiredbynatureand

verticalhabitats andlandforms

suchastherocks,cliffsandkarstin

rainforestsandothermoisthabitats

hevisitsonresearchtrips.Here,

plantsgrowona thinlayerofmoss,

orattachthemselvesdirectlyonto

rocksandtreesbytheirroots,fed

bya constantf lowofnutrient-rich

water.Soil,therefore, is not essential

to their growth.

Blancfoundthattherearevarious

otherplantsthatcouldgrowthisway,

suchasdrought-tolerantlavender

andmoisture-tolerantIrisjaponica

andNandinadomestica.

Themurvégétal(plantwall)struc-

turethatBlancpatentedin 1988

aftercreatinghisfirstinstallationat

theCitédesSciencesetdel’Indus-

trieinParis,useda simplesystemof

hydroponics.Twothree-millimetre

layersofpolyamidefelt,mimicking

themossesintowhichtheplants

naturallyroot,werestapledontoa

ten-millimetrePVCplateattached

toa metalframe.Anetworkofpipes

atthetopofthewallautomatically

drip-fedtheplantswithanutrient

solution, which f lowed downthe

The tallest garden in the world: Blanc’s green wall at One Central Park, Sydney

PHOTO: GET T Y IMAGES

31