Green Wall at Ilona Rose House

This living wall creates a green backdrop for a newly created square and striking piece of public art at Ilona Rose House in Soho. It was created using Biotecture’s hydroponic BioPanel living wall system, which uses a water retentive growing medium to ensure healthy growth, long term. The green wall not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the courtyard but also contributes to environmental sustainability by improving air quality and boosting biodiversity.

Ilona Rose House itself is a unique mixed-use development that includes offices, retail and restaurants. The building was designed by Matt Architecture to blend modern architecture with the historic character of Soho and includes a number of innovative façade treatments including our living wall.

The development includes garden terraces on multiple levels as well as the new public realm space James Court, where our living wall can be found. This combination of green spaces and public areas makes Ilona Rose House a unique and inviting place in the heart of Soho.

The living wall is mounted on a bespoke steel frame. The BioPanel system includes a non-combustible, waterproof backing board, a geotextile drainage layer, and BioPanels fixed into aluminum rails. The BioPanels consist of a recycled plastic shell that holds the growing medium, Grodan. Grodan is dimensionally stable and does not degrade; it is also extremely water-retentive, holding water for up to two weeks. This provides reassurance in the event of a water outage. The project includes a small irrigation room, carefully concealed behind the living wall.

Our BioPanel living walls are pre-grown in our nursery for 8-12 weeks to ensure full coverage upon installation. We selected robust evergreen plants to suit the shady location, with the addition of some Heuchera to provide interest and attract pollinators.

Architect – Matt Architecture
Main Contractor – Sir Robert McAlpine
Landscape Architect – Townshend
Landscape Contractor – Willerby Landscapes
End User – Soho Estates