#EQNInsights | Lighting for Living Walls

Lighting a green wall is always a balance between supporting plant health and creating a visually refined environment for people. It requires a different way of thinking, because plants respond to light differently than humans, standard photometric concepts simply don’t apply, even though the final lit effect must work beautifully for the people using the space.

Humans use visible light to perceive and interact with the world around us, while plants rely on photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) to harvest energy for growth and metabolic energy. Both use the 400–700 nm spectrum, but their biological responses differ.

1️⃣ Support plant growth with the right spectrum and intensity:
Provide the right light spectrum and intensity tailored to the plant species, scale and location of the wall and environment considerations whilst maintaining a calm, natural visual appearance for the occupants.

2️⃣ Prioritise visual comfort and integration:
Glare control matters. Use glare control techniques like shielded, louvred low-glare light sources to create a pleasant environment for everyone without compromising the lighting needs of the planting system.

3️⃣ Coordination is key:
Collaborate with the design team, biophilia and plant design specialists to incorporate the selected species lighting requirements from the outset. This will ensure that the wall performs biologically and integrates seamlessly with the rest of the architecture.

Thoughtful lighting transforms a living wall from a decorative feature into a thriving ecosystem, an integrated part of the space, one that brings wellbeing, texture and natural rhythm into the environment.