Hotel green wall: planning your reception

In a hotel, guests see a green wall before they have even put down their luggage. It can give the reception a distinctive character, frame a lounge or connect the entrance with the dining area. The installation also needs to work during service, deliveries and maintenance visits. A good project therefore starts with the hotel's daily operations, followed by the design of the wall. These are the points to discuss with your architect and operations team.

Start by observing the route from the front door. A wall facing arriving guests can act as a landmark; behind the desk, it frames their first conversation with reception. In both cases, signs and staff must remain easy to see. Photograph the space from the entrance, the desk and the seating area. These three viewpoints often reveal constraints that a floor plan alone cannot show.

In a lounge, planting can form the backdrop to a seating area without enclosing the room. In the restaurant, allow enough space for chairs to move and staff to pass. Foliage should not extend into circulation routes. Avoid placing a delicate composition where luggage or trolleys will hit it. A suitable lower panel can protect the base while providing a finish that works with the furniture.

A completed project in Bordeaux

For this Bordeaux hotel restaurant, VG.TAL3Design installed a living wall 2.2 metres high and 5 metres long. The project combines five hydroponic modules, integrated irrigation and around 500 tropical plants. Its relevance to hotel design is practical: the planting connects the entrance with the dining room. These dimensions describe this particular installation; they are not a standard size imposed on other properties.

A living green wall suits a hotel that wants to see plants develop and can arrange ongoing care. Automatic irrigation handles part of the work, but does not eliminate checks, pruning or occasional plant replacements. Before choosing this option, identify who will perform routine checks and how a maintenance provider can access the installation. A wall that is easy to maintain is more useful than a striking installation that becomes difficult to look after.

A preserved green wall uses natural plants that have been preserved. It does not need the watering required by living planting and may suit a reception with little daylight. It is still a decorative installation that needs protection: repeated handling, unsuitable humidity or certain exposures can affect its appearance. Specific conditions depend on the materials selected. Ask for care instructions rather than reading “no watering” as “suitable everywhere without precautions”.

Our indoor green wall guide explains the different types of installation in more detail. For a hotel, however, the decision should remain closely connected to how reception operates. Staff availability, wall height and maintenance access windows matter as much as the desired appearance. Avoid choosing living planting only because automatic watering is advertised, or preserved planting simply because the lobby receives little sunlight.

An entrance that looks bright to guests does not necessarily provide suitable lighting for every plant. Orientation, lobby depth and obstructions need to be considered at the wall's exact position. If horticultural lighting is needed, plan it from the outset: mounting, power supply, controls and access for maintenance. Check how comfortable it is to look at from the desk and seats. Equipment that seems concealed on a drawing can be conspicuous once installed.

The Royal Horticultural Society notes that light requirements differ between plants. This horticultural reference helps frame the question; choosing equipment for your hotel requires a site assessment. For a living wall, also check the water route, protection of the supporting wall and whether components can be reached without dismantling the desk or moving all the furniture.

Where irrigation is installed, define the checks required and the procedure for dealing with a fault. The hotel needs to know whom to contact, how to reach the equipment and what to do to protect nearby finishes. Keep this information accessible to the team, including when a new facilities manager joins. An installation is easier to operate when instructions are prepared alongside the project, rather than after the first problem.

Planting does not have to cover the entire wall. A framed panel, a vertical strip or a composition around a seat may be enough to create a focal point. Compare material samples with the actual wood, fabrics and lighting planned for the room. A green chosen on a screen may look different under lobby lighting. Treating planting as a material within the interior scheme makes design decisions more precise.

The installation below is in a wellness space in Lisbon. It combines preserved mosses, ferns and eucalyptus, among other plants. It illustrates a possible palette for a quiet area; it is not presented as a hotel project. Before adopting this type of solution in a hotel spa, check humidity conditions and exposure to splashing. The appearance of a reference project is not enough to establish its suitability for a different environment.

For dining spaces, another useful example is this preserved installation in a staff restaurant in Paris. The composition works with the banquette seating while leaving circulation clear. It shows how planting can be framed by furniture. The example alone does not demonstrate a measured acoustic improvement: if noise is a concern, request an assessment and performance information relevant to the complete installed assembly.

Before agreeing a date, confirm the supporting wall, delivery access and equipment locations. Modular construction can simplify transport, but the dimensions must work with doors, lifts and handling areas. Coordinate finishes with the other trades: decorating, joinery, electrics and final cleaning. This preparation helps prevent work planned for one wall from unexpectedly making part of the lobby unavailable.

For a hotel that remains open, agree working hours, protection of neighbouring spaces and tool storage with the operator. Keep guest and staff routes usable within the arrangements approved for the works. At handover, examine the composition from the original viewpoints, check maintenance access and provide the instructions. Suitability of the support, safety and material compliance must be confirmed by the relevant project specialists.

Can a reception without windows have a green wall?

Preserved planting may be suitable without light for growth, provided exposure conditions are appropriate. Living planting in a windowless area requires an assessment of horticultural lighting and plant care. Choose after reviewing the lobby, available equipment options and maintenance arrangements.

Is automatic watering enough to maintain a living wall?

No. It automates the water supply specified by the system, but plants and equipment still need monitoring. Plan irrigation checks, pruning and any plant replacements. Tasks and their frequency should be defined for the chosen composition and the hotel's conditions.

Can installation take place while the hotel has guests?

This depends on site access, the supporting wall and the work required. Phasing can be discussed with the operator to limit disruption, without promising an invisible installation or uninterrupted service. Deliveries, protection and circulation should be organised before work begins.

What should we send to start the project?

Prepare photographs from the entrance and seating area, a plan with wall dimensions, and available information about the support and nearby equipment. Include operating hours and the intended maintenance arrangements. This makes it possible to discuss a workable solution before drawing the details.

A successful project brings together the design, installation conditions and everyday use. You can introduce your hotel to VG.TAL3Design with lobby photographs and the constraints you already know. We can review the location, planting options and matters to confirm with your architect, to create a reception that fits your property.