Tournesol Siteworks has been working closely with our partner Elmich in Singapore to bring you the next generation of VGM modular living wall – the VGM3. For those who have worked with VGM in the past, you’ll find the great features that made VGM a superior living wall solution (availability in 4″ and 8″ soil profiles, ease of removal/installation, open planting space, recycled materials) are all still there.
We’re not content to rest on our laurels – we want the best system to be better, at a lower overall installed cost!
Welcome to 2012! We took the holidays off (from posting on the blog, anyway), but are excited to be in the new year.
We’ve just published our new 2012 commercial price list. This is typically the price that contractors will pay, and the price that is available through our distributor network.
The pricelist includes several important things for 2012:
Cool VGM living wall installation uses the boxes' modularity
When it comes to creativity, the designers we work with have us here at Tournesol Siteworks beat hands down. Architect Ross Andrews and Landscape Architect Jim Ridge came up with this design for a small living wall installed on a retail center in Fountain Valley, CA. Instead of viewing the modularity of the VGM system as a drawback, they leveraged the geometry to create something quite spectacular.
Installed by Matsunaga Landscape Maintenance, and grown in by our friends at Instant Jungle, this wall adds pop to an otherwise bland area. The one column reaches all the way to the ground, which allows irrigation to be run up behind it. As the wall grows in, the variation in plant material’s colors will containue to add to the effect. A great installation, and one that shows what creativity can do on a budget.
All images courtesy of Michelle Bond, Thumbellina Gardens
Since starting in the green wall business, we often get the comment – “it looks great when it goes in, but what about a year later?” Thanks to Michelle Bond of Thumbellina Gardens in San Francisco, we can show you a time lapse of a living wall in San Francisco. We featured the installation of this wall last December (here), and then revisited it again 6 months later (here).
We just recieved word from Elmich, our partners in Singapore, that they have received certification for the VGM Modular living wall systems at wind speeds up to 68mph. They contracted with a testing agency in Melbourne, AUS, who created and executed the test. While the video above might not be particularly exciting, the results are excellent.
The short story-
The new 3rd generation VGM modules (coming at the end of November) feature an optional plastic retaining clip that keeps the module in place. While it was tested here with wind, the same clip can be used for seismic retention and vandal prevention purposes.
With the wind coming from three different directions, there was still no appreciable uplift on a typical module. That is, the brackets held the boxes fast on the rails no matter the direction of the wind.
The 3rd generation modules also feature planting windows with additional retention bars. These prevent wind erosion of the soil or plants, and help keep the planting bag in place.
We’ll be featuring a post on the new modules shortly after they debut in December. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, they feature full stainless steel hardware, and a fully removable lid. As a bonus to the installing contractor, the new bracket system will be faster and easier to assemble than the previous generations.
Photo courtesy Jim Fitzpatrick, Newport Beach Independent
Mario Batali is at it again! One of our most popular blog topics last year was the installation of an edible living wall at Pizzeria Mozza’s first store in Los Angeles (see posts here and here and here). He and partner Joe Bastianich have expanded their Pizzeria Mozza concept, putting in their second store in Newport Beach, CA. The success of the Tournesol VGM edible living wall at the first store convinced them to make it a motif at the second.
Tournesol VGM modular living wall at Pizzeria Mozza, Newport Beach CA
The bungalow expansion project at the Beverly Hills Hotel started last year, but only was installed in the last month or so. You can see the previous post here (from last October!) showing the sedums growing into the Tournesol VGM modular living wall system.
Installation photos courtesy of Paul Hansen of Pierre Sprinkler
The architect for the overall expansion project was Gensler, and the landscape architect (who specified the VGM wall) was Michael Hee of SWA Group of Los Angeles . The original concept and planting plans are shown below Click to continue »
Flowers are blooming on the residential living wall
It’s been a little over 6 months since Michelle Bond of Thumbellina Gardens in San Francisco installed this living wall in her client’s back yard. You can see details of the installation here. She recently forwarded us updated images of the wall, and gave us more details about what kinds of maintenance she’s doing. It seemed like a good time to revisit the project in a new post.
Residential VGM modular living wall, all photos courtesy Michelle Bond of Thumbellina Gardens
Many of our customers looking at the Tournesol VGM modular living wall system intend on using it for commercial installations. This is a wonderful example of what it can do in a residential setting. The design, by Michelle Bond of Thumbellina Gardens in San Francisco, covers the back wall of a back yard at the bottom of a large hill. This installation was one of the best-documented that we’ve seen, and we’re fortunate that Michelle shared her images with us. Click to continue »
