New Bridge Street House Living Wall, Blackfrairs
Project Details
- Landmark living wall at the Gateway to the City of London
- Created using Biotecture's Hydroponic BioPanel living wall system.
The redevelopment of New Bridge Street House is one of London’s greenest landmarks. Biotecture’s living wall spans the South Façade, visible from Blackfriars Bridge. Once completed, the South Façade will also feature a City of London plaque, signifying the gateway to the City of London.
We worked closely with the architects to ensure the living wall was integrated into the building design, fulfilling their vision for the project. The design team aimed to create a “green ribbon” across the existing building, with the living wall connecting the pocket park below to the roof terrace above. Additionally, the living wall frames large windows offering views over the River Thames.
One of the primary goals of the new development was sustainability, with thermal efficiency being a key consideration. We installed the living wall on the existing brickwork using Hilti helping hand brackets, allowing for a 150mm thick layer of insulation to be included behind the backing board.
Biotecture’s living walls are installed in two stages. The first fix includes the helping hand brackets, insulation, waterproof backing board, and aluminum rails. The second fix is the installation of fully planted BioPanels. These panels are first planted in our nursery and allowed to mature for 8-12 weeks so that the wall looks full from day one.
The magic of natural soil environments is undeniable, but replicating it in thin substrates is a challenge. That’s why we use Grodan as the growing medium for our living walls. Grodan provides a stable and predictable environment for plant growth. It is also extremely water-retentive, holding water for up to several weeks, which offers reassurance in case of a water outage. The wall includes an automatic irrigation system, monitored daily by our team.
The living wall at Blackfriars isn’t just about aesthetic appeal; it will also boost local biodiversity and help reduce air pollution on this busy road.
Concept Architect: Perkins and Will
Delivery Architect: TODD Architects
Contractor: McLaughlin & Harvey
Living Wall System: BioPanel