Recently, NOVA University in Lisbon invited MY VERTI to design a vertical installation that would bring more color, nature, and life to one of their indoor campus spaces.
The challenge was clear: transform a neutral area into an inspiring and sustainable space, using a creative approach that connects people to nature.
This project consists of a vertical structure designed to support climbing plants, allowing plants to naturally wrap and anchor themselves as they grow. The design not only promotes healthy plant development but also adds a dynamic and sculptural element to the space — merging functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics.
🤝 Collaborative Creation
To make this project possible, MY VERTI joined forces with two key collaborators:
🛠️ Luis — Artisan from Caldas da Rainha
With over 40 years of experience creating artistic pieces from ceramics and stone, Luis handcrafted four unique pots for this installation, each pot carries its own personality, combining artistry and sustainability in a truly unique way:
- 🌟 One pot covered in reclaimed ceramic tiles
- 🪨 Three pots made from reused stone and marble, sourced from construction leftovers and some collected from nature.
🧰 Fablab Lisboa — Where Prototypes Take Shape
A creative hub that help bringing ideas to life. With the support of its specialists and advanced equipment, helped us design and create the components of the vertical structure (helical tower). This collaboration resulted in an installation that uniquely combines creativity, technique, and sustainability. We made it using sustainable Valchromat wood, a material known for its natural pigments and eco-certifications (FSC® and PEFC™). Its strength, durability, and aesthetic finish made it ideal for an indoor setting, aligning with the project’s sustainable vision.
🌱 A Vertical Garden with Purpose
The Dipladenia is a tropical, fast-growing climbing plant, ideal for bright indoor environments. Its vibrant flowers — in shades of pink, red, or white — bring color, lightness, and natural beauty to the space throughout much of the year. At the NOVA School campus, when grown in a pot, it’s perfect for bringing life to common areas, softening architectural lines, and creating a more welcoming and calming atmosphere. Additionally, it helps purify the air and requires minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for decorative vertical structures..
At MY VERTI, the mission is to inspire people to reclaim and transform their spaces through vertical gardening.
Although this structure was designed for ornamental plants, it can easily support fruiting crops like:
🍅 tomatoes | 🌿 passion fruit | 🥒 cucumbers | 🫑 peppers | 🌼 zucchini blossoms | 🍆 eggplants | 🧄 climbing garlic | 🌶️ chili peppers | 🌱 fava beans | 🍃 peas
Vertical gardens like this don’t just add beauty…they:
✅ create microclimates
✅ improve indoor air quality
✅ promote biodiversity
✅ offer learning opportunities around sustainability and urban farming
🌟 A Living Installation That Inspires
This vertical garden at NOVA University is a clear example of how design, reuse, and collaboration can turn a simple idea into a vibrant, living space.
For MY VERTI, this project reinforces the belief that sustainability and aesthetics can go hand in hand, inviting more people to grow upwards and rethink the way we use our spaces — even indoors.
If you enjoyed this project and can imagine something similar in your space — whether it’s a school, company or indoor garden, we are available and happy to collaborate.
IVAN SILVA