Artificial living wall for a Santa Monica mall food court (420 sq ft, UV-rated)

A Santa Monica mall wanted to cover a drab food court wall with something design-forward that wouldn't need ongoing upkeep. CalifauxScapes created a one-of-a-kind artificial living wall using three foliage styles and installed it overnight.

Overview

A high-end mall food court in Santa Monica, CA had a blank wall that made the seating area feel unfinished. The client had previously worked with CalifauxScapes on custom artificial hedges, and they came back when they wanted a greener backdrop without watering, pruning, or dealing with dead plant swap-outs.

The project called for a 420 square foot artificial living wall with a "fluid" pattern, more like a composed design than a single panel repeated end-to-end. Since the wall sits in a public dining area, the materials needed to keep their color under ambient daylight and interior lighting, so we specified UV-resistant materials (UV stabilization is the treatment that helps slow fading and material breakdown from sunlight).

The challenge

The existing surface was simple but unforgiving: one large, uninterrupted wall that read flat and commercial. In a food court, that kind of empty backdrop stands out, especially in photos and from the main circulation routes.

The other constraint was timing. The client couldn't allow installation during operating hours, so everything had to happen overnight, with quick staging and a clean handoff before morning traffic. That meant the design, materials, and install plan had to be locked before the crew ever stepped on site.

Our solution

We recommended a custom living wall that would look deliberate up close and still read lush from across the food court. Rather than covering the full 420 sq ft with a single foliage type, we built a one-of-one "artificial fluid living wall" by blending three different CalifauxScapes artificial foliage options. The mix added depth and variation without depending on live plants.

Because the wall would be exposed to light, we chose UV-rated components to help the color hold longer in brighter conditions. We also worked through details early: edge alignment, transitions, and how the pattern would travel across the full footprint so it wouldn't end up looking like repeated modules.

Implementation

Before install, we aligned with the client's point of contact on the approved layout and the overnight access plan (arrival time, staging area, noise constraints, and cleanup expectations). We also re-confirmed the 420 sq ft coverage area and mapped the layout so each foliage type landed where it would read best from the main seating zones and walking paths.

Installation was completed overnight. The crew staged materials to keep the sequence moving: prep and layout first, then mounting, then final blending so transitions between foliage types looked planned, not patchy. Before morning open, we did a full visual check for alignment and finished with a final cleanup so the space could return to normal operations.

Results

The finished wall made the seating area feel instantly more pulled together, turning a blank surface into a dense, realistic green focal point that suits an upscale food court. And because it's artificial, the mall got the look of greenery without adding irrigation, soil, or ongoing horticultural maintenance.

The custom pattern (three foliage styles in a fluid layout) also helped it avoid the usual "same panel repeated" look. By getting it done overnight, the project avoided daytime disruption while still delivering what the client wanted: a clean, photo-friendly backdrop that looks like it belongs there.

Project details