Viritopia Limited

Funded by Northumberland County Council, this new state-of-the-art leisure centre has replaced the old centre in Berwick. Designed by GT3 Architects and built by Tolent Construction, we were contracted by Tolent to design, supply and install the living walls which form part of the façade design.

With the aim to support local biodiversity and improve the air quality, we designed the living wall to provide sources of nectar, an alternative ecological habitat through the use of soil and bird boxes, with a changing aesthetic through the seasons providing a variety of pollinators.There are also a large number of species across the wall that have significant air purification properties, which will aid a healthier atmosphere in the immediate area on the plaza.

Eden at New Bailey, aka A3 Salford located in Salford, Manchester is Europe's largest living wall. The living wall wrapped on all elevations across the façade was designed, supplied and installed by Viritopia.The living wall is designed with modular plants with an ivy veil with a mix of trailing and climbing plants, almost acting as a camouflage to the building as a whole. The species of ivy has been carefully selected for its hardiness and seasonal appearance. This living wall will absorb and filter the pollution and carbon in the atmosphere, enhance biodiversity, attenuate rainwater, reduce noise and provide biophilic benefits for the health and wellbeing of the users.This 3,900m2 green façade has a 20,000 litre self-sufficient rainwater harvesting tank, helps control the urban heat island, and took around 10 months to install. Eden is also increasing the BNG by 174% with this project, with over 16 tonnes of soil and 33 different plant species and 350,000 plants in total helping it along the way.

The main intent of this project was biophilia, and to enhance the well-being along with the overall experience of the spectators. It was a bit challenging as it is both an interior and exterior wall - it is protected from the rain and outside weather, yet still open to it and gets most of the natural daylight that it would get outside. However, with the ANS soil-based living wall system we were able to tailor the plant palette to suit this exposure.