David Brenner. Photo © Garry Belinsky. Image courtesy of Habitat Horticulture

The built environment shapes our lives daily. Yet as we further explore the landscapes of the metropolitan areas we call home, designing with plant life is often seen as an accessory or an afterthought. However, for the San Francisco-based multidisciplinary design firm Habitat Horticulture, the possibilities for plant-centric spaces and the potential plants have to make our lives better is extremely high. 

Founding principal and lead designer David Brenner explains that his passion for plant life started at a young age in his grandparents' garden. Today, Brenner seeks to shift the perception people have about plant life, often portrayed as “static accessories” to the built environment, by creating a way for people to experience these beautifully complex entities through larger than life living wall installations.

For this week's Studio Snapshot, Brenner talks about his multifaceted team and how they create structural feats that go beyond standard plant management and cultivation. According to Brenner, “Living elements are beginning to drive conceptual design, and we [Habitat Horticulture] are looking at ways to meld the disciplines.”

How many people are in your practice? 

We have a team of 48 across our core service areas of design, installation, and maintenance. It’s a motley crew of horticulturists, landscape architects, architects, engineers, industrial designers and botanists.

What prompted you to start your own practice? Did you have any architecture or design role models? 

I wanted to create awe-inspiring, plant-centric spaces that would enhance and promote people’s connection to nature. During my apprenticeship at Kew Gardens in London, I was inspired by how plants could grow naturally on trees and rock faces and I spent a good deal of time studying those. I was blown away by the vertical gardens I encountered in Europe, specifically the work of Patrick Blanc. His designs at the Musée du quai Branly in Paris and the Trussardi Café in Milan were my early influences. I realized this was the most practical and impactful way to bring greenery into urban areas. 

When I returned to the U.S., my design classes had never seen this application of non-epiphytic plants before. I was totally energized at the idea of bringing a new, transformative practice into the mainstream. I began experimenting at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo—where I was a student at the time—with different growing mediums and synthetic materials to develop a new living wall system. That was the beginning of Habitat Horticulture, which I started right out of college. 

Plants are the easy part. Growing a company from 5 to nearly 50 people has had its growing pains.

We are paving the way in this new industry, so it has taken some time to mature our management, training and quality control procedures specific to our firm. 

What have been the biggest hurdles in terms of having your own practice? 

Plants are the easy part. Growing a company from 5 to nearly 50 people has had its growing pains. We are paving the way in this new industry, so it has taken some time to mature our management, training and quality control procedures specific to our firm. It’s unlikely we find candidates that have a background in living walls, so there is a lot of upfront training that goes into each new hire for them to understand the nuances of our work and the Habitat Horticulture process. 

What initially drew you to designing with plants? Your work has this amazing blend of design and technical construction, did you ever consider becoming an architect or landscape architect?

I have always been fascinated by plant life as far back as I can remember. I used to water my grandparent’s plants as my first summer job, and I felt the therapeutic effects plants can provide. I was hooked. I wanted to create meaningful multi-sensory experiences with plant life and began designing traditional garden spaces. I loved the idea of creating these experiential spaces and outdoor rooms. My experience in Europe was the turning point for me with the discovery of living wall design. I could channel my love of plants, design, and experimentation into something new that could have a similar impact on people without the necessary land to execute it. 

Living walls are often considered an afterthought or a static accessory in architectural design [...] 

Early conversations enable more fantastic design possibilities and also debunk some common assumptions for accommodating a living wall.   

As an expert in blending so many disciplines like horticulture/botany, interiors, architecture, and urbanism how do you think architects can do a better job at designing spaces with plant life? 

Living walls are often considered an afterthought or a static accessory in architectural design. Having said that, the tide seems to be shifting with proactive urban greening policies and the rise in popularity of biophilic design.

The number one thing I tell our partners is to talk to us early, before conceptual design starts. The most successful living wall integrations take into consideration the plant’s essential needs such as lighting, growing medium, exposures, and how those constraints will impact the architecture and design tolerances. For example, before our Foundry Square III project in San Francisco, Tishman Speyer brought us to the site when it was still a parking lot. Today it remains one of our most visually stunning projects to date. 

Continuing to evolve our design process with new technology, responsible experimentation and innovative, sustainable building materials is our priority. 

Early conversations enable more fantastic design possibilities and also debunk some common assumptions for accommodating a living wall. Existing architectural designs might not take into account important specifications like wall depth, trench drains, catch basins, maintenance access, lighting and electrical needs. Outside of the technical, spaces that design intentionally around a living wall feel fundamentally different than those that don’t.

Where do you see your firm in 5 years and what do you want your practice to be known for? 

I think we are only scratching the surface in understanding the impact living walls can have. I’m not only talking about the wellness benefits for city dwellers and employees at big companies. I’m eager to delve into the significance that living walls can have on creating environments for local pollinators, native endangered species, storm water retention, and better air quality. We have this unique opportunity to provide a substantial impact across the board. I’d like Habitat Horticulture to be known for having that level of environmental impact in an artful and sustainable way that also promotes curiosity for the natural world. 

Put the people first and focus on building a top-notch team. With a great team you are able to work through any challenge.

Continuing to evolve our design process with new technology, responsible experimentation and innovative, sustainable building materials is our priority. I’m excited about the new initiatives we have on the horizon to improve upon the art of living wall systems from top to bottom. Our team is truly passionate about the art form, and I think that shows in our work. I’d like Habitat Horticulture to be known for our top-tier standards and museum quality installations that give back to the community through design. 

Do you have a favorite project? Completed or in progress. 

There are so many favorites. Each one has something different to offer. The larger, more public installations have such a dramatic impact on the space that you actually have the sense you are walking through a forest. The SFMOMA’s third floor terrace is probably the most transformative experience for me every time. You feel a sense of tranquility as you walk out of the gallery space and are enveloped by this ocean of greenery.

Then there are the smaller projects that have a more intimate impact. One residential client in San Francisco spent her last days in hospice positioned in front of the wall we installed in her living room. The immense joy the living wall brought her is beyond rewarding. That story will stick with me forever. We often hear stories from clients about the various ways they interact with the installations we create for them. 

Do you have a dream project you’re hoping to work on? 

I’d love to work on a project that transforms the skyline with a massive tower covered on all sides within greenery. The projects are getting closer to that. Although we are based in California and most of our work is local to the state, we have plenty of experience working across the U.S. and adjusting to different climates and exposures. That’s part of the challenge and excitement for each new project. It would be great to work on a global scale. Conceptual forest cities were once considered fantasy, but I feel it’s our urban future. My dream is to one day lead a massive urban transformation project that would impact people and the planet in a significant way. 

I was able to see three of your living wall projects in San Francisco during the AIA|SF Architecture + The City Festival. The one thing that blew me away was the scale of these projects. When planning out these designs what’s the first thing you and your team think about? 

It’s a balance between a plant-centric and a people-centric process. We always begin with a series of questions. What function does this wall serve to the client? How will people interact with this space? What can we grow in those conditions? Where will the water drain to? How will the installation be maintained? How can we make this installation truly unique and give it a sense of place that melds with the architecture? What are we trying to communicate with the living wall?

Working with Snøhetta early in the conceptual design phase, the intent was to create a space that was rejuvenating to all senses and to provide a place to recharge away from the gallery.

It was designed to feel like an environment you might encounter walking through the forest floor on Mount Tamalpais, a peak local to the San Francisco Bay Area. 

The living wall at SFMOMA is truly breathtaking. Can you talk about the design of this wall and the technical aspects for a project of this scale in terms of water storage and plant maintenance? 

Working with Snøhetta early in the conceptual design phase, the intent was to create a space that was rejuvenating to all senses and to provide a place to recharge away from the gallery. It was designed to feel like an environment you might encounter walking through the forest floor on Mount Tamalpais, a peak local to the San Francisco Bay Area. It consists mostly of shades of green with a diverse array of textures and forms. We worked with Snøhetta and Hyphae Design Lab to integrate the living wall into the architecture and the grey water system. The living wall uses condensate water, which is a byproduct of the cooling tower system, as the primary irrigation source. This water is collected in a tank in the basement level of the building and goes through a system that adjusts the pH and fertilizer content each time it irrigates. Any excess water is then collected at the base of the wall and returned to the tank.

Maintenance is weekly on this installation and there is always something to do on a wall of this size. Fortunately, there is a scissor lift on site so we can access every inch of the living wall.

You studied at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London. Can you talk a little about your time there and how the gardens inspired you to pursue a career merging these disciplines together? 

Kew Gardens was one of the best experiences of my life. I was working in the Tropical Nursery which houses a lot of the rare specimens you see in the public glasshouses. There are various greenhouses, all climate specific to the types of plants being grown. Many of these plants are lithophytic plants or epiphytic, meaning they grow naturally on trees or rock faces such as Orchids, Ariods, and Bromeliads. I had the opportunity to learn from experts from around the world who specialize in a specific plant family. I learned so much during my time there and it brought me to where I am today.

What’s a common misconception people have when wanting to design with plant life? 

That plants will work just like they do on their Pinterest board. It’s encouraging that there’s a growing interest for plant design, but on the flipside there isn’t enough understanding of the access, maintenance requirements, and expectations needed for plant designs to thrive—physically or aesthetically. This is especially true when you are working against gravity on a vertical plane. 

With the growing interest in living walls, how do you think the future of architecture will change as more designers blend horticulture and botany into design? 

I think we’ll see more people specializing in living systems as part of a holistic design study. In many cases, living elements are beginning to drive the conceptual design and we are looking at ways to meld the disciplines. That includes intentional exterior architecture that totally integrate greenery into façade cladding systems.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given during your career? Any advice you’d give to others who’d want to pursue a multidisciplinary career like yours? 

Put the people first and focus on building a top-notch team. With a great team you are able to work through any challenge. There is also something so exhilarating about getting on the same wavelength and all working together towards a common goal. I feel fortunate every day for the team we have created at Habitat Horticulture. 

If you could describe your work/practice in three words, what would they be? 

Thoughtful. Purposeful. Forward-thinking.