Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/335804
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN KIRKMAN A n edg y piece of modern art used to be the boldest way to stop people in their tracks when they entered a high-end residential building for the first time. Now, though, local luxury developers are moving beyond art and are decking out their public spaces with lush "living walls," the latest design expression of the trend that's bringing elements of the outdoors indoors. These are not your everyday installations of English ivy coaxed to climb a trellis; rather, these green walls typically feature an array of tropical or succulent plants embedded in soil or hanging gorgeously from panels or other wall-mounted structures. They're made possible thanks to a recent bumper crop of efficient growing and watering techniques for vertical plant systems, and landscape designers are working with building own- ers who want to set themselves apart in a competitive marketplace. They're finding that many successful urbanites want to live in chic high-rises but also like being around greenery. Bring the Outdoors In THE LATEST LUXURY AMENITY? LIVING WALLS, WHICH ARE MAKING SOME LOCAL RESIDENCES FEEL LIKE THE GARDEN OF EDEN ALL YEAR LONG. BY JUDITH NEMES The lobby of The Grant combines greenery with art in Aspen Mays's Every Leaf on a Tree. continued on page 144 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 143 Haut e P roperty NEWS, STARS, AND TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 143