Green walls are in, but many living walls these days are mere wire trellises bolted onto the facades of buildings with climbers growing from the ground up superficially. Although these can still offer great benefits, a true living wall with vertical growing medium will no doubt be more long-lasting, more efficient, will sustain a more increased bio-diversity and looks amazing!
UK-based BioTecture Ltd have an integrated ‘living’ alternative that truly turns a building into a living structure. With their BioWall system, BioTecture uses precise engineering and permaculture principles to deliver a remarkable green wall living cladding solution for buildings and walls.
Each BioWall consists of a number of pre-grown modular panels that can be erected with very little on-site time. The standard panel size is 600mm wide x 450mm high which suits proprietary cladding rail centres and fixings.
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BioWall Components
The main components of the BioWall are as follows:
• cladding rails: any standard cladding system, or to our preference, timber rails.
• waterproof backing board: marine ply or from 2010, “eco-sheet”, an award-winning sustainable backing material.
• Drainage layer: a void forming layer which accepts the drain down from each panel.
• Irrigation line: a horizontal baton which secures the pressure compensated drippers.
• Bio-Panel: plastic modular box/fascia containing the hydroponic growing medium
• Vegetation: plants of suitable species planted through fascia apertures
• Drain channel: for collection and disposal of surplus irrigation water (supplied by others).
• Surround fascia:, to finish off the wall and integrate into the building fabric, this element is supplied by others and typically specified by the architect involved.
• Plant room: for pumping and nutrient dosing equipment etc.
Find out more about » BioTecture…
Grosvenor House, Luton
RIBA Headquarters, Portland Place
Grant Thorold Library, Grimsby
Grant Thorold Library, Grimsby
