Lifestylegreen China Ltd, one of the country’s leading vertical green companies, has launched a 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) vertical green garden project in Shanghai.

Company chairman Sam Lam said: “We aim to become a driving force behind the city’s landscape program.”

The garden, in the downtown Huangpu district, was originally a factory building but has been transformed by the introduction of vertical green landscapes, becoming the city’s first vertical green garden.

The company has completed the first phase, which cost 3 million yuan, and will spend the remaining funds on the next two phases in the next three years, Lam said.

“Vertical green is one of the solutions to the lack of space for urbanization,’’ said Lam. “Vertical space can be used to provide an environment green enough for people to live in.’’

The company wants to use the garden as a platform to promote the city’s and the country’s vertical green industry.

“The market is huge but competitive with many potential rivals to vie with each other,’’ Lam said.

Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have spearheaded countries and regions in Asia in developing vertical green business. Shanghai has also drawn up a plan to add 150 hectares of vertical green landscapes to beautifying its environment by 2015.

Lifestylegreen China has set up a research and development team with members from Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and Hong Kong to develop its own irrigation systems and design floral art products for vertical green landscapes.