Via Verde of Mexico DF
Inspiration from Nature: A Story of Urban Green Transformation
I recently visited Mexico City. The highway columns were filled with lush plants, an astonishing sight that immediately sparked my curiosity. When I got back home, I researched them and discovered an inspiring tale of innovation and environmental stewardship.
Photo credit Via Verde
How Did It Come to Be?
The project was led by Fernando Ortiz Monasterio of Via Verde, a company dedicated to integrate nature into urban spaces. His mission: To transform city infrastructure into living, breathing green walls. As an architect and gardener, Fernando works to weave nature into city life, driven by the belief that together we can create a better, greener future, for our children and generations to come.
Launching such a project wasn’t easy. Fernando’s breakthrough came when a well-known actor-friend created a viral video urging public support through a petition. As a result, it caught the attention of the mayor who OK’d over 1,000 green pillars stretch along a 27-kilometer section of Mexico City’s Periférico freeway. These lush walls feature millions of plants planted in felt pockets made from recycled plastic bottles, helping absorb pollutants, reduce urban stress, and beautify the city. The system runs sustainably using rainwater and greywater, supported by innovative hydroponic sensors that respond to each panel’s needs. Even advertising along the highway helps finance this green infrastructure. Today, this corridor is celebrated as the city’s green lungs.
Photo credit Via Verde
A Global Movement
Thanks to collaborations with the World Economic Forum, Via Verde’s sustainable solutions are expanding worldwide! Customized for different cities’ needs based on the climate, these green innovations include the groundbreaking “Internet of Plants” - free software that connects smart sensors to individual panels, automatically adjusting watering and care without human intervention. This smart technology ensures optimal health for each green wall, reducing neglect or overwatering. Funding and permits remain challenges, but Fernando emphasizes a vital lesson: “If people come together, the government will listen.”
The Takeaway
Fernando’s story teaches us another thing: “When key elements like private sector support and government collaboration are aligned, it’s possible to transform not just infrastructure, but entire cities - and even the world.”
Inspiration in Every Thread
Via Verde’s success has inspired me to create an illustration based on the plants used for these garden walls, an ode to nature in urban spaces. In the near future, I may even roll out a collection that will be a tribute to the visionaries transforming our cities, and a reminder that, through creativity and commitment, we can all be a part of supporting projects like these.
