Virginia Center for Architecture: Vertical Gardens Exhibit Review

Last Thursday, I ventured back down to Richmond for the opening reception of the Vertical Gardens Exhibit at the Virginia Center for Architecture.  I just love going there--not only do they have awesome exhibits and lectures and events, but being able to drive down Monument Avenue makes the trip so much more worth it!  The wide avenue is lined with beautiful, historic homes and statues are dotted along the wide, grassy median.  It is easily my favorite street in Richmond.   Plus, the Branch House where the Center is located, is also something in itself to see (pictured below).

Vertical Gardens is an exhibit that opened last Thursday and will continue to be open through June 26.  The exhibit, although new to the Center, has been on going since 2007.  It includes plans that are both already in place and potential plans in efforts to make urban spaces more green.  There were some amazing examples from New York City, Paris, India, Istanbul and Japan just to name a few.  Even the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, NYC has implemented a green, inclined roof plane as well as an entire back wall covered in ivy.  They describe their building, which has become my 2nd favorite quote behind Jean Carroon's, the "building is the garden, and the garden is the building."

Some examples of green, urban spaces exhibited were Plug-in vertical farms, planter bricks (which counter the heat island effect), hanging gardens, vertical farms, botanical roof gardens, and many other inventive ways in which to blend the urban with the rural.  Adding green spaces to urban areas should not be looked at as just an environmental aspect, but it also looks AWESOME and is also very economical.

Pictured here, is a 20 foot wall that was featured at the exhibit.  It was completed by Edmundo Ortega and Dianne Rohrer, and to see a video of the installation click here! 

I'm a big advocate of green spaces within urban settings, and if you wish to be educated on the subject more, or see some really awesome examples, head down to the Center for their exhibit!

Enjoy the day!
-The Intern