Living wall at Two Fifty One, Southwark Bridge Road
Project Details
- 27m high living wall on an iconic landmark building
- Integrated design process at all stages
- South East elevation in a shaded location
- Hydroponic BioPanelTM living wall system
- Naturalistic hardy plant selection
- Automated remotely monitored irrigation system
Biotecture designed and installed this 27 metre heigh living wall at 251 Southwark Bridge Road.
Collaborating closely with architects, engineers, and contractor we ensured that the living wall was integrated seemlessly into the new building.
Horticulture
The project is made with Biotecture’s modular hydroponic BioPanel system which is the most flexible, resilient and low water use of any fully comprehensive living wall system anywhere in the world making it ideal for large scale construction projects. Using the the growing medium Grodan allows us to achieve resilient long lasting living walls with healthy root zones.
The living walls were planted up in our West Sussex Nursery and allowed to mature for 12 weeks before being installed on site. This ensured the living walls looked fantastic from day one.
The living walls include an integrated irrigation system which is being remotely monitored from Biotecture’s head office.
Plant palette
We chose a naturalistic and robust plant palette, featuring species known for their ability to withstand high winds, shade, and varying climatic conditions. This selection not only ensured the wall’s aesthetic beauty but also its long-term viability.
Installation
The fully planted up BioPanels were fixed to aluminum cladding rails mounted onto a waterproof backing board. The team worked closely with the contractor to ensure the living walls were delivered to the required schedule.
Aluminium Fin Feature
This project included a key architectural feature – a horizontal aluminum fin detail. A fixing bracket was fixed back to the waterproof backing board and protrudes between the modular BioPanels, no additional support structure required. The aluminum trim was then fixed to this bracket in front of the planted panels.
Maintenance
Our living wall system gives the plants the best opportunity to flourish, and our maintenance operatives know how to keep them that way. Our team will carry out regular horticultural visits to keep the walls looking their best.