Haven't signed into your Scholastic account before?
Teachers, not yet a subscriber?
Subscribers receive access to the website and print magazine.
You are being redirecting to Scholastic's authentication page...
Announcements & Tutorials
Renew Now, Pay Later
Sharing Google Activities
2 min.
Setting Up Student View
Exploring Your Issue
Using Text to Speech
Join Our Facebook Group!
1 min.
Subscriber Only Resources
Access this article and hundreds more like it with a subscription to Science World magazine.
Article Options
Presentation View
Living Wall
NATURAL FILTERS: The 860-square-foot wall of plants absorbs noise and pollution.
City construction usually means two things: ugly scaffolding and a lot of noise. To solve both problems, a Swedish company specializing in greenery partnered with a British architectural firm. Together the two companies created a vertical garden known as a “living wall” at a construction site in London, England.
The firms covered traditional scaffolding with grasses, strawberry plants, and wildflowers. Not only does the vegetation look nice, it may also help absorb noise and air pollution. The living wall has been outfitted with sensors to collect data about its impact on noise and local air quality. If it proves successful, similar walls may start popping up at other construction sites.
COVER UP: The greenery hides unsightly scaffolding (left).
QUIET, PLEASE! The plants could reduce construction noise by up to 90 percent (right).