A decade or so ago, growing families moved to the suburbs to give the kids room to play and mum and dad a chance to garden. With the current trend to urban living, some may be happy just to be a “couch potato” in front of the TV. But for those who want to exercise their “green thumb” growing flowers, if not vegetables inside their own four walls, the acrylic glass industry has a transparent solution.

The 5 mm-thick panels designed by award-winning British landscape architect Jade Goto are studded with airplants (Tillandsia), bringing floral note, if not scent, into the tiniest living room. These desert or mountain dwellers grow without soil, obtaining nutrients from their immediate environment. They are not averse to taking a drink of water once in a while, however, giving urban gardeners a chance to do something useful – fill a tray fitted below the panels – without getting their hands dirty.