While it can be argued that green walls have been in existence for hundred of years in one form or another, the popular, high-design resurgence they have had recently can be traced back to Patrick Blanc, a French artist and botanist, without much argument.
Blanc has been designing green walls (or vertical gardens) for almost twenty years but his green wall on Jean Nouvel's building for the Musee de Quai Branly marks perhaps his transition to maintstream recognition. His work includes interior and exterior spaces. I visited the Branly shortly after it opened in 2006.
What I like most about Blanc's work is his horticultural variety and flair for mixing textures. Above you have Hostas, next to creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) that is interrupted by tufts of fern.
In the photo below, tendrils of Jasminum nudiflorum are tangled with Hosta leaves.
Even more original, below, Heuchera is planted next to Mahonia. I'd love to get back to the museum sometime soon and see how it's faring. Including winter jasmine and Mahonia are imperative with an exterior wall, since the wall could look a bit bare in winter if the herbaceous plants die back.
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