Though living walls and other interior landscaping
elements had cropped up in cities like Vancouver and
Edmonton a few years earlier, the trend hadn't yet taken
root in Winnipeg.
"I thought, 'We need more of this, especially
in Winnipeg, because it's so much better of an
environment for all different types of interiors,' "
Bouchier says. "There were all these studies that I was
reading as far as the benefits of surrounding yourself
with plants."
On the retail side, research has shown consumers are
willing to spend more when surrounded by greenery
— hence the ubiquitous clusters of potted plants in
shopping malls. And in schools and office buildings,
indoor landscaping has been shown to increase
creativity and productivity.
Then there's the not insignificant matter of improved air
quality, which in a city like Winnipeg helps during winter
months, when opening a window isn't always an option.
"NASA did a study and came up with the top 10 plants
for air filtration," says Bouchier. "And we do use a lot of
those top 10 plants in our walls, so … just creating that
indoor oxygen exchange, that alone is going to improve
health."
Interior landscaping can also help reduce ambient noise
and create an overall sense of calm — in particular, some
of Bouchier's more expansive products, such as custom
green and living walls comprised of rows of different
plant varieties, and decorative wall installations made of
moss and foliage that's been preserved with glycerine.
THERE WERE ALL THESE STUDIES
THAT I WAS READING AS FAR AS
THE BENEFITS OF SURROUNDING
YOURSELF WITH PLANTS.
Cont'd on page 42
Parade of Homes fall 2019 41
1336 Sargent Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0G4
Telephone 204-925-8466
www.theensuitewinnipeg.ca
@ensuitewpg
Franke_Chef_Centre_Ensuite_7.125w_2.3125h_ad2.indd 1 2019-07-08 1:39 PM
