Neurological Nourishment
Published

Australian manufacturer Schiavello and Melbourne-based designer-artist, Joost Bakker, present the latest iteration of their Vertical Garden indoor greening system.
Titled Vertical Garden, the system provides an organic approach to reducing the impact of artificial spaces. Suitable for any scale of project both indoors and out, Vertical Garden’s highly adaptable design enables the freedom to decorate shelves with books and ornamental objects as well as potted plants. The system’s stand-alone column or grid can be utilised in a kitchen or café space to grow herbs. Adaptable to living areas, Vertical Garden can also double as a bookshelf and garden wall.
More than just a style statement, indoor greening has become a practical solution and highly effective approach for improving health and wellbeing, productivity and creative performance. Research has found workers experience a 15 per cent jump in creativity, 15 per cent higher level of wellbeing and 6 per cent increase in productivity, when working in environments with natural elements. Research has also found indoor plant presence reduces sick leave absence in offices from 20 – 60 per cent.
“The idea of incorporating nature into the built environment through biophelic design is less often seen as a luxury in the modern workplace, but rather as a sound economic investment into employee’s health, wellbeing and performance,” said Schiavello Director, Anton Schaivello.
Vertical Garden’s grid and tile system optimises the potential of any space, creating decorative and functional possibilities. In office settings and public spaces, it can be placed horizontally or vertically to create an ornamental space divider. Steel grids, columns and shelves are available in raw steel for an industrial aesthetic. For a polished finish that can be customised to space and design, Vertical Garden can be powder coated in a range of vibrant tones, sourced from the exclusive Schiavello Colourlab range created by Italian ‘colour master’ Giulio Ridolfo.
“The Vertical Garden makes it easier to surround ourselves with plants and can also be used for storage or as a room divider,” said Bakker. “Designed with symmetry and repetitive order, these vertical gardens make for uncomplicated additions that allow the plant to be the hero.”
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