Living wall cladding still thriving 10+ years after installation
Area: 700m2
Location: London
System: BioPanel
Install Year: 2014
Client: Landsec
Number of plants: 52,000
Number of plant species: 15
In 2014, Biotecture was commissioned by Willerby Landscapes to design and install a large external living wall for the ultimate client, Landsec at 20 Fenchurch Street, London. This was Biotecture’s second project for Landsec.
Installed on an annex service building opposite the southern entrance, the living wall transforms an otherwise unused façade into an attractive and biodiverse feature that enhances the surrounding public realm. At over 700m² and containing around 52,000 plants, it provides a lush, green backdrop to the retail café area, creating an environment that is both welcoming and visually striking.
Our approach
Biotecture designed the living wall using our modular BioPanel system. The planting palette combines ferns, shrubs and grasses to create a variety of colours and textures throughout the year.
Evergreen Hart’s Tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) brings structure and freshness, while Heuchera ‘Marmalade’ adds red and bronze tones. Lonicera ‘Maygreen’ and Polystichum setiferum contribute contrasting foliage forms, and seasonal flowering plants introduce bursts of violet, pink and white in summer. In winter, ripening berries maintain visual and ecological interest.
The living wall features an integrated irrigation system, automatically monitored to ensure optimal plant health.
Design
Including panel layout, plant design and irrigation design
Horticulture
living walls grown in the nursery for 8-12 plants until fully mature
Installation
Installation of backing board, geotextile drainage layer, irrigation pipework and planted panels
Maintenance
Remote monitoring of the irrigation system, regular visual inspections and horticultural maintenance visits
The results
The living wall has become a distinctive feature of 20 Fenchurch Street’s streetscape, softening the urban environment and creating a more pleasant and biodiverse public space. Its year-round planting design delivers both aesthetic appeal and ecological value, helping to meet Landsec’s sustainability ambitions.
Biotecture provided ongoing maintenance for the wall from installation until 2023, ensuring it continued to thrive and deliver lasting impact for the client and the local environment.
