As part of the Green Cool Schools project, our partner school BRG 6 Marchettigasse in Vienna has successfully completed the installation of a living green wall in its biology laboratory.
Photos: B-NK GmbH, Ralf Dopheide e.U.
The project was carried out over two workshop days on 25 November and 2 December 2025. Around 18 students from the school’s Eco Club actively participated in every step of the process. Guided by Ralf Dopheide, José Fernández Durán and Jelena Gašpar, the students prepared the planting substrate, planted the vegetation and helped install the green wall system.
The project provided students with valuable hands-on experience in indoor greening while introducing them to topics such as plant care, biodiversity and sustainable design. Rather than simply observing, the students became active contributors to creating a greener learning environment.
Following a short adjustment period, the green wall has developed successfully and has become an integral part of the biology classroom. Students continue to take responsibility for the system by watering the plants, monitoring their growth and propagating new plants from cuttings. This ongoing involvement ensures that the green wall remains both a living classroom feature and a long-term learning opportunity.
Beyond improving the appearance and indoor climate of the biology laboratory, the project has sparked further interest in classroom greening throughout the school. It demonstrates how students can actively shape their learning environment while gaining practical knowledge about sustainability, plants and ecosystem services.