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New Zealand’s Largest Living Wall Makes a Bold Statement
Auckland’s Britomart precinct with its chic bars and trendy restaurants is the place to be seen. But the real must see
of this up and coming area are the three-storey high vertical gardens by Natural Habitats. These eco-artworks are the
focal point of the atrium at the new Britomart East building, which has a New Zealand Green Building Council five-star
rating.
The living walls are the largest in New Zealand. They live on harvested rainwater and provide many environmental
benefits to the complex, which is one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in New Zealand. Indoor green walls
are one of the best ways to achieve maximum plant coverage in minimum space to improve air quality. Studies show that
indoor plants improve air quality through the removal of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and through the regulation
of temperature and humidity levels.
To achieve this the walls’ have a custom designed planting palette that features a combination of native and exotic
epiphytes, ferns, climbers and groundcovers, chosen for their low light and maintenance requirements. A collection of
flowering plants provide seasonal variety, and have been specially chosen to ensure falling drifts of petals don’t stain
the steel grey tiles below. The overall composition was influenced by the shadows that fall on the wall during the day,
with repetition of planting patterns loosely referencing those found in traditional Maori carvings.
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As the walls are only 120mm deep, containing an inert medium as opposed to soil they can be easily fixed into the
atrium’s existing stud pattern. They are an ideal light weight solution to the question of how to differentiate the
complex’s interior aesthetic. Other design features include a customised flat tray guttering system which complements
the clean lines of the architecture, a remotely monitored irrigation system and light sensors which ensure additional
lighting comes on when light levels fall below minimum requirements.
Sitting between two to five stories above ground level the walls’ 60 custom made panels had to be carefully installed
using a building maintenance unit and abseiling equipment, which was undertaken by Natural Habitats over a two week
period in February.
Natural Habitats is also responsible for ongoing maintenance; and can be found up the wall every fortnight making sure
the plants adjust to their new surroundings. “The walls’ are essentially a hydroponic system which is fully irrigated
and fertigated” says Natural Habitats’ site manager Brent Atherfold.
The vegetation is expected to reach full coverage in the next month or so, and provided these vertical gardens are
properly maintained they will last indefinitely. The wall is being well received by the complex’s occupants “the green wall has been the single most outstanding feature of our new work environment. It causes people to stop and
take time out to look at the detail of it, which is extremely important in an otherwise rushed corporate environment” notes one worker. While trends change and fashions fade, these vertical gardens will continue to set to the scene and
the pace for the future growth of the Britomart precinct.
ENDS
Natural Habitats living walls are situated in the atrium of the Britomart East complex, which houses both the Ernst & Young and Westpac HQ. The public thoroughfare also provides access to Britomart’s underground train platform.
For more information on green walls visit www.greenwalls.co.nz