GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE
For instance, and despite being a
modern necessity, the multi-storey
car park is generally a concrete urban
eyesore. Towering industrial boxes
that encourage high levels of toxic
pollution, car parks are often a source
of contention for local communities
and local authorities alike. However,
the addition of a living wall can
transform the man-made structure
into a thriving urban garden, with
Blooming business The company’s commitment to
From purifying toxic air and restoring to see, and with planning requiring
a loss of nature, to benefiting mental
health and creating a thriving habitat
for valued wildlife, living installations
have a central role to play in urban
regeneration and the proof is in every
finished project.
There are also no limits to a living
benefits that far exceed the aesthetic. wall, with a notable ANS Global project
A biophilic solution to today’s largest external living wall at National
environmental challenges, living
walls can filter out up to 95% of the
pollutants generated by vehicles ,
while also providing an opportunity
to reinvent wasted space as living,
breathing installations and a glowing
symbol of sustainability.
seeing the installation of Europe’s
Grid’s HQ car park; which incorporates
97,000 plants and 20 different species,
including fruit bearing plants. With
planning demanding that the design
focus on more than just the green
aesthetics, every single plant was
required to have a green, sustainable
purpose while also delivering
proven ecological values, such as air
purification and biodiversity.
sustainability is now visible for all
a camouflaged construction all
year-round, the design is focused on
providing an evergreen living wall
façade; one which grows, changes
and blooms with each season. The
project also earned national attention,
winning the Best New Car Park Award.
Green infrastructure, such as living
walls, has the power to reintroduce
nature to urban areas, transforming
what would be a metal box into a
powerful, visual statement. However,
ensuring the right plant palette is
selected is vital in ensuring that a
living wall will thrive in the long term;
this includes considering the local
climate, elevation and surrounding
environment.
With space only set to become more
limited, living walls are likely to
become a familiar feature as the
industry seeks to adapt to rising
environmental pressures. Paving
the way for greener approaches
to development, living walls are
becoming a powerful weapon in
overcoming the cost of construction,
transforming buildings and skylines
into urban forests.
www.ansgroupglobal.com