Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust Living Wall, York

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation are an independent social change organisation who run a housing association and care provider, the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. As part of their new lodge development in York they commissioned Biotecture to design, install and maintain a freestanding, double sided living wall in the courtyard garden.

One side of the new living wall faces the new residential properties and the other overlooks the communal courtyard garden area. Some of the occupants of the new lodge may have dementia so it was important to consider planting plan carefully when designing the living wall. Plants like Hebe ‘Red Egde’, Carex ‘Elata’ and Heuchara ‘Plum Pudding’ were chosen to provide a sensory experience with a variety of colours and textures without any potentially harmful side effects for any residents who interact with the living wall. It was also important to ensure that the plants selected would thrive in the mixed light and shade conditions of this east and west facing wall.

The living wall is one of the first landscaping elements to be completed and gives an instant green coverage while the other plants in the courtyard garden establish over the coming months.

Biotecture’s dedicated maintenance team will now take over the on-going care of the plants in the living wall. A bespoke maintenance schedule will be drawn up to ensure that each plant will get the correct treatment at the correct time of year which will ensure that the living wall will continue to thrive.

If you are interested to see another example of a Biotecture Living wall in a courtyard garden setting you can visit our 11 Cavendish Square portfolio page.