The living walls on this retail development bring nature into the heart of the shopping experience.
Area: >1,000m2
Location: Northern France
System: BioPanel
Install Year: 2023
Number of plants: 22,000
Number of plant species: 40
Biotecture designed and installed over 1,000m² of living walls for a new retail outlet in France, following the successful delivery of a previous project for the same client.
Two curved living walls, each around 90 metres long and 11 metres high, form the centrepiece of the design, with additional sections framing the main entrance. The living facades bring biodiversity and improved air quality to the site while creating a striking visual feature.
Our approach
The BioPanel system serves as the building’s rainscreen cladding. Biotecture collaborated closely with the design team to coordinate layout, planting, and structure.
We collaborated with French living wall pioneer and renowned botanist Patrick Blanc. Patrick selected 40 different species, including flowering plants such as Erysium, Lavandula, and Jasminum, to create living walls that would be full of colour and variety.
Each 600 mm x 450 mm BioPanel includes 16 plants, allowing us to pack in 60 plants per square metre. Our design team translated Patrick’s concept into a planting diagram which our nursery and installation teams followed carefully to bring the scheme to life.
The hydroponic panels were pre-grown at Biotecture’s West Sussex nursery and installed in phases on site.
A remotely monitored irrigation system provides precise water and nutrient delivery, while a local contractor manages ongoing maintenance.
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 delivers a striking, verdant aesthetic while enhancing biodiversity.
Robust evergreen planting ensures year-round greenery and seasonal flowering plants will provide food for pollinators.
The living wall will reduce air pollution by capturing particulate matter and absorbing carbon dioxide.
Users of the nearby seating will also enjoy the sense of calm and relaxation that comes with spending time in nature.
