BioTecture Ltd offers a complete, bespoke design, install and maintain service for all commercial green wall installations. These primarily consist of our patent pending “BioWall™” modular units, but can also incorporate other systems, as necessary, such as cable or mesh support panels.
The Award-Winning BioTecture BioWall™
BioWall™ by BioTecture Ltd is a 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 300mm high which suits proprietary cladding rail centres and fixings. Within reason panels can then be fabricated to suit any finishing dimensions or openings. They can even be designed to go round long radius curves!
Potential BioWall™ locations fall into three broad categories:
- New build (rainscreen cladding solution)
- Retro-fit to existing buildings
- Independent Walls (atrium art, retaining and garden walls etc)
For each of these situations the patent pending specification of the BioWall™ is basically the same (the exception being the independent walls which MAY not require a cavity zone behind the panels).
New Build Construction
When adopted as part of a new build the BioWall™ panels take the place of the exterior facing of a rainscreen cladding solution. The cost of the panels can be offset by the saving made from an alternative inert cladding facing choice. The panels are delivered to site already completed thereby reducing on site time.
A cavity zone between the structure of the building and the back of the panels (typically 50mm - 200mm) ensures that rain (and irrigation water) cannot penetrate through to the structure. It also allows for insulation boards to be integrated within the system to provide an external part L solution.
Retro-fit to Existing Buildings
A BioWall™ system will transform an existing building with a drab or tired exterior. As part of an overall refurbishment solution this can also be an opportunity to add external insulation within the cladding cavity zone to vastly up-rate the energy efficiency of existing buildings.
Fully saturated the BioWall™ system total weight is approximately 50 - 60 kgs per m2 (dependent on panel thickness). This is comparable with many external cladding solution materials.
Independent Walls
The potential and scope for BioWalls that are not a part of the external structure of a building is endless. They can work equally well both inside and outside. From individual living art installations in building atriums to bespoke landscape designs BioWall™ panels are pre-grown to specific requirements. Two sided free-standing structures with internal support are possible as are temporary screens for corporate events or on development sites.
BioWall™ Components
The main components of BioWall™ are as follows:
- Living plants - designed to suit their location and aspect, each wall has a unique planting design, based on sound horticultural knowledge. Plant density will vary to suit the application; a “standard” wall is spaced at 50 plants per m2.
Which grow through.
- A fascia panel with apertures for the plants to come through. This can be made of a number of materials. Currently we have walls with regenerated plastic sheets with defined planting patterns and walls with steel mesh facings that allow for varied planting intervals
That is fixed to or part of.
- A basket to contain the growing medium & roots. These are not baskets in the traditional sense of the word - they are engineered wire or regenerated plastic products manufactured to precisely suit the requirements of the plants, the growing medium and the cladding system
Which contains.
- The Growing medium and plant roots. Typically this zone will be 80mm thick. Our preferred growing medium is horticultural rockwool making this a hydroponics system. One of the most innovative features of the patent pending Biotecture design is the way that the rockwool is integrated into each modular panel thereby allowing the full potential of the qualities of the material to be realized. Horticultural rockwool has the ability, if used properly, to absorb and maintain 80% liquid by volume whilst still leaving 15% air pockets. This enables us to use minimal quantities of irrigation water with little or no run-off and still gives the plants the perfect environment in which to thrive.
That is held in front of.
- A waterproof backing board or membrane. This waterproofing zone fulfills two functions. Firstly it allows for the output from the controlled irrigation system to be maintained within the growing medium zone and secondly it limits any water penetration through to the existing or background building structure.
All of which is maintained by means of...
- A controlled irrigation system. The irrigation system delivers just the right amount of nutrients and water to each section of the wall by means of regulated pressure compensated drippers and moisture meters (note: a small pump room or similar will be required as part of each installation).