Building exteriors on Auckland's Federal St are sprouting 3500 plants as the new shared-space street project goes vertical.
Simon Chamberlain, chief executive of GreenAir - responsible for design, building, installation and maintenance of the new green wall - said he was inspired by the under-canopy of the Waitakere Ranges where he grew up.
Building columns between the SkyCity Grand and SkyCity Hotel have been planted in a circular fashion to look like tree trunks. The circular green walls encase seven pillars, rising to meet a 48m-long living wall above.
"The top of the columns will be colonised by larger growing species and extend to the horizontal green wall above," Chamberlain said.
"These species will work like a tree canopy, with the plantings below reflecting natural epiphytic ecologies, with top, middle and lower canopy species all arranged to suit light and wind exposure ..."
