How Garden on the Wall® Brings Lasting Biophilia to Commercial Interiors

Author: Interior Design Staff

Since the EPA estimates that people spend around 90% of their lives indoors, biophilic design has become a necessity, particularly in commercial interiors. That’s what makes Garden on the Wall (GOTW) products so popular. Its preserved vertical gardens and moss walls incorporate real botanical materials that maintain a natural look and texture without the maintenance needs of living walls. They require no water, soil, sunlight, misting, or irrigation, yet afford the biophilic benefits of indoor plants.

Confidential Client for Los Angeles, CA. Courtesy of Jason O’Rear Photography.

Biologist Edward O. Wilson defined biophilia as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life,” reflecting the word’s Greek origin (“bio” meaning life, and “philia” meaning love). Research shows that incorporating nature into corporate interiors can improve well-being by 15% and productivity by 8%. And the global biophilic design market is forecast to reach $3.14 billion by 2028, reflecting the growing investment in biophilic design.

GOTW was ahead of its time. Founded in 2014 and designing and installing its first maintenance-free preserved gardens and moss walls a year later, the company pioneered preserved vertical gardens in the United States, creating installations that combine mosses, ferns, eucalyptus, and more to mimic nature while delivering depth, dimension, and a positive sensory experience.

US Steel for Pittsburgh, PA. Courtesy of Tom Harris Photography.

“Biophilic design should be held to the same standards as any other material we specify for a commercial interior,” says Can Ozturk, Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of Architectural Sales at GOTW. “Designers should be able to ask what it’s made of, how it’s been tested, how it will perform, and how long it’s expected to remain in the space—and receive documented answers.”

Confidential Client for Philadelphia, PA. Courtesy of Don Pearse Photographers, Inc.

As preserved garden products become more popular, GOTW emphasizes material quality and transparency, backing its systems with third-party documentation covering material health, environmental performance, VOC emissions, bio-based content, and fire safety. The company has also achieved an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), Health Product Declaration (HPD), and Declare Label.

Longevity is another part of that commitment. GOTW installations can last more than 20 years, thanks to a proprietary rejuvenation program that has doubled product lifespan.

Confidential Client for Washington, D.C. Courtesy of Gensler.

“For us, sustainability and value are connected through longevity,” Ozturk says. “If a biophilic installation can remain in place for a decade or longer without irrigation, ongoing horticultural maintenance, or frequent replacement, the conversation changes. You are no longer evaluating a decorative feature only by its upfront cost; you are evaluating what that investment delivers over the life of the space.”