How to renovate a concrete wall?

[AlfJ]

Along the driveway, I have an old concrete wall.
It's probably as old as the house, from the 1930s.
It's anything but beautiful but will probably last many more years even though 1930s concrete seems more brittle than today's. Previous owners have patched and repaired it several times.

I'm considering how I can easily renovate it.

Option 1:
Do it thoroughly. Tear it down and dig out behind it to then cast a new wall.
Anything but quick, easy, and cheap.

Option 2:
Pour a new wall on top of the old one.
The light version of option 1. Faster and I skip digging and removing the old wall.
The downside is the driveway becomes narrower. It's already narrow and on the other side is a drop, i.e., a wall to an even lower level, so I can't move or widen the driveway.
Still quite a lot of money to set form, reinforce, and pour over 20 meters of wall.
How thick does the wall need to be?

Option 3:
Plaster the wall.
What preparation is required? Is power washing enough?
Is it possible to paint/slather with diluted plaster?
The finish won't be perfect, but significantly better than now. Definitely easier than trying "proper" plastering myself. Doubt I'll get the plaster smooth.
How long will it last?
What type of plaster?

Option 4:
Wash away dirt and algae.
Start with a power washer.
Suitable chemicals.
The repairs will still be visible but less noticeable.

Option 5:
Close your eyes and do something more fun. The wall will probably stand for a few more years
Maybe let some thin plants hang down to hide it.

I'm leaning towards option three, i.e., "paint" with diluted plaster.
What does the gathered expertise think?

 

[RiKr]

Clothe it with fiber cement board/base board. Available to order in different colors as well.

 

[AlfJ]

Cover it with fiber cement board/baseboard. Available to order in different colors as well.

Thanks. Creative idea!
Have you tried this on a retaining wall yourself?

Definitely needs to be investigated further.
A quick Google search shows more alternative products.
It seems like you should mount on battens to create an air gap behind it. At least on a house foundation. Maybe less important on my wall.
I suppose you would ideally place a metal sheet on top to get a neat finish and to keep water and debris out from behind the board.

 

[Farstatjej90]

I think you're overestimating how difficult it is to polish the wall. Check out some YouTube videos on the technique. I think it can turn out well.

 

[RiKr]

Thanks. Creative idea!
Have you tried this on a retaining wall yourself?

Definitely worth investigating further.
A quick Google search shows more alternative products.
It seems like you should mount on battens to create an air gap behind. At least on a house foundation. Maybe less important on my wall.
I guess it's suitable to place a sheet metal flashing on top for a neat finish and to avoid water and debris behind the board.

Not something I've tried myself. Sheet metal flashing on top sounds good, can be placed as a coping across the entire wall, if desired.

 

[topmount]

Covering a damp wall with boards I spontaneously think might accelerate decay through increased frost heaving. Clearing the top of vegetation and plastering, I believe in.