"curtain walling systems"

BH2 is a £30m development creating a newly-constructed leisure complex in Bournemouth  •  Originally a two acre NCP car park and bus station, main contractors Vinci has built a new 10 screen Odeon Multiplex cinema, café, casino, restaurant and retail complex.  •  Structura was appointed to design and supply Kalwall translucent facades to enclose the external fire escape routes around the perimeter of the building.  •  Structura installed multiple Kalwall translucent elevations, totalling over 1000m2, providing natural daylight to internal areas by day and a soft ethereal glow which brings the area to life at night.The SolutionPanter Hudspith Architects replaced the original curtain wall and specified Kalwall® for the front elevation. Unusually, this unique translucent cladding is fitted with a tight 150mm wide grid, known as Verti-Kal™, which not only serves to emphasise height but is the first of its type in the UK. On this scheme the Kalwall panels also insulate to 0.78 w/m2 making the building eye-catching and sustainable.Unlike conventional glazing, Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Even on cloudy days, the interior is bathed with natural daylight, which means less artificial lighting and, because Kalwall is highly insulating, energy costs are reduced.Kalwall is increasingly being used in the UK for new buildings and also for the refurbishment of cladding or rooflights on aged buildings. One of the main attractions of specifying Kalwall is its unique effect on both the interior and exterior. Although translucent, it offers the big advantage of privacy while the elevations appear crisp and simple. When illuminated at night they emit an inviting ethereal glow.The CommentsArchitect James Jeremiah comments, “This is the first time we’ve specified Kalwall and it fulfils our vision of retaining the modernist characteristics of the building. One of our original concepts for the building was of a zoetrope (one of the earliest forms of moving image) and there’s a strong history of using transparency in films with people moving behind the shadows. We felt the Kalwall system was a very good fit for what we wanted to achieve”.Amanda Birch, Technical Editor Building Design writes, “To appreciate fully the building’s transformation, it is best viewed from the street. The concrete structure has been retained along with its striking line of concrete columns, which are now a strong feature of the front elevation. The original coloured insulated glass panelled system has been replaced at first and second floor levels with Kalwall’s 75mm thick insulated cladding system creating a dynamic façade that is particularly effective at night.

Offering a futuristic office environment, Vedanta Resources Ltd, the global mining and metals company, has totally re-vamped their London HQ. Helping transform the offices, partitioning experts Style added flexibility to the space with a combination of advanced operable wall systems. Two 54dB Rw acoustic moveable walls form a corridor, creating a stunning hall of mirrors with pass doors into spacious meeting rooms. Three Skyfold Zenith vertical-rising walls divide those rooms into smaller work areas. An additional partition splits the main boardroom, creating work space for the chairman. The entire area can be opened out for large corporate functions.

Gradus has supplied and installed a range of wall protectionsolutions at the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre, helping to create an engaging, child-friendly atmosphere while making the building interior more hygienic, easier to clean and cheaper to maintain.The Gradus products installed include SureProtect Design wall cladding, finished with a bespoke printed design that shows a cartoon solar system to give the corridors a different feel to the wider hospital environment. The bespoke design is printed onto the back of a clear textured sheet meaning the cladding is easy to clean and features a textured surface to conceal the effects of impact and abrasion.Elsewhere in the hospital, Gradus installed its SureProtect Endure protective wall cladding, a durable layer of wall protection that is through-coloured and textured so surface damage does not show.Standard corner guards have also been installed, offering acost-effective solution to protect vulnerable corners, as well as door frame protectors also made from SureProtect Endure. All have been carefully positioned to provide maximum protection against the constant stream of pedestrian and wheeled traffic that hospitals experience.Gradus provided Leicester Royal Infirmary with its supply and fit service, which sees the dedicated Gradus Contracts Team take the project from initial survey to design, manufacture and through to installation.

The main hall at Bohunt, a state-of-the-art secondary school in Wokingham, benefits from superbly adaptable space thanks to a contemporary DORMA Hüppe Variflex operable wall, installed by UK supplier, Style. Meeting the demand for a system with a particularly narrow stacking solution, the Variflex incorporates panels and pass doors that can be as little as 976mm wide, as opposed to the more standard 1200mm width. Recognising a high level of commitment to craftmanship in the finishes and interiors section, Style recently won their 10th Gold in the prestigious FIS Contractor’s awards.

As business evolves and requirements change in our fast-paced world, London Wall Design continue to bring ground breaking, intuitive products to the industry and pride ourselves in being able to create unique and bespoke systems for all our clients, whatever the application. One of our latest projects which has been installed and tested has made us particularly proud and set a new standard in acoustic movable walls.The requirements on this project were clear and simple with very specific needs for one of the leading pharmaceutical companies and we were going to tackle it head on. A movable acoustic wall with radiation protection for a research and testing environment needing to maximise flexibility while still offering the safety and protection required in a radiology environment.Our Type 100SE semi-electrically operated movable wall was developed and tailor-made for this requirement; with X-Ray protection and specialised seals to ensure the ground-breaking radiation protection and acoustic levels would be achieved. Each wall weighed in the region of circa 6 tons and the top hung system was fitted with our Type “K“ track which allows for remote and varied stacking locations. The walls varied in width and height but were all finished in Rigato Formica laminate with aluminium protective edge trims. The vision panels in the pass doors were fitted with Med-X type single glazed glass between two layers of 4mm thick toughened glass.

RIBA STIRLING PRIZE WINNER, Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton South London, benefits from the flowing façade integrating seamlessly with Sotech's Optima IPC Cladding. The external facades of the academy, designed by award wining architect Zaha Hadid, feature flying angles and oblique lines and, to maximise external space the building bridges, a full-length running track. The internal design generates natural patterns of division within highly functional spaces to create four small schools within the whole, each with its own identityIn addition to partnering with the specialist contractor McMullen to identify the optimum solution for the fixing components, a scaled mock-up incorporating the Sotech Optima IPC interlocking plank system, finished to the specification required, was built on site incorporating two sections of the building integrated into the glazed curtain wall. This level of detailing provided the contractor and the architect with the reassurance that the rainscreen system, and the specified colour and finish, would meet the performance and design requirements of the project.The Optima IPC system has been independently tested by Vinci, including both horizontal and vertical planks in the material and finish specified for the Evelyn Grace Academy together with a number of other finishes including copper, aluminium and zinc. Achieving 2Kn serviceable load, the system successfully met the rigorous test requirements.The specification of the highly engineered Optima IPC for the £37.5 million Academy resulted in the bespoke manufacture of each panel, many incorporating complicated angles and tapered corners in two directions, each with a 5mm shadowgap and secret fix joint. Curved soffits and cills completed the package, which totalled in excess of 1500sqm of Optima IPC.

Biotecture recently completed this internal living wall at Legal and General's new flagship HQ in The Interchange, Cardiff. The green wall was installed using Biotecture’s naturally resilient hydroponic system and the planting design includes the icon Legal and General umbrella.

Located near Taunton, Somerset, the Halcon Centre provides short breaks, with 24-hour professional care, for up to 18 adults who are physically disabled or have sensory loss. SureProtect Design® bespoke wall cladding was installed in the main corridor at the centre featuring a row of imitation panels, that have been designed to look hand-drawn with a marker pen to offer the homely feel the centre was looking for. In addition, the Halcon Centre further increased the corridor walls’ protection by installing Gradus’s CGH5090 High Impact PVC-u Corner Guards and WGS200 Wall Guards, both in colour Gravel.

Gradus has recently installed its market-leading Wall Protection systems in the new NHS Rainbow Community Hub in Elland, West Yorkshire, which provides healthcare for young people with complex healthcare needs. 

Leading partitioning specialist, Style, has launched a new glass sliding wall solution for balconies and terraces (BSW). Transforming a balcony into functional space, glass panels are used to enclose the area, creating a barrier against weather and noise without impeding the view. On fine days, the upper section of the glass panels can be neatly folded and stacked to one side, allowing people to sit out and enjoy the sunshine.For terrace rooms that open straight out into a garden or external seating area, Style’s new glass sliding wall allows the boundary between the two spaces to be easily removed on sunny days, whilst successfully combining weather protection with uninterrupted views of the outside during inclement weather.With a discrete guidance track that can be fitted flush to the floor, the BSW system creates a truly a streamlined aesthetic. “This is an exciting addition to our portfolio of glass moveable, folding and partitioning walls,” said Mark Cowley, who heads up the glass solutions division at Style. "With space at a premium, it makes sense to extract the maximum functionality from what is available.”“Our sliding-folding glass wall system brings the outdoors in, effectively expanding the living space in residential homes. In commercial settings, such as restaurants for example, the BSW can be used to increase capacity by making use of a balcony or external area that would otherwise only be enjoyed in good weather.” Making for a welcoming environment, even when a terrace room or balcony is entirely enclosed by the glass panels, air still circulates internally thanks to tiny, 3mm gaps between that provide continuous ventilation. Any condensation is quickly filtered outside thanks to unobtrusive drainage vents and guttering.Fitted with a sophisticated roller system, the individual glass panels also incorporate autonomous pivot point identifiers, ensuring smooth and effortless manoeuvrability every time.Ideal for residential and hospitality settings, the BSW system also offers opportunities for sports clubs, retail outlets and commercial offices, wherever a more enjoyable experience could be offered by opening-up an internal area to incorporate an outdoor space.

The Mary Webb School & Science College in Pontesbury, Shropshire has undergone major refurbishment. The first phase of the project was to install a completely new front to the main school building, replacing the old windows with Kestrel thermally efficient windows and curtain walling.

Berlin's new Waldorf Astoria Hotel next to the “Kurfürstendamm” – the first in Germany – continues the Renaissance of the old western part of Berlin. However there remains a clear commitment to the modern spirit. All rooms including conference rooms had to meet to the highest requirements and systems from Silent Gliss could fulfil those high expectations in all areas. Fitted with Silent Gliss Panel Glide systems.

We supplied and installed over 500m² of Jakob Webnet for the new build sports hall at St Dominic’s College in Harrow. The Webnet, now clad with climbing plants has created a free-standing green wall which provides shade to the building and effectively disguises it, allowing it to blend in to the surrounding grounds.

Take a look at the various systems on display at our showroom based in Clerkenwell, London - including a range of both solid and glass partitions.

Project: Slimming World headquartersClient: Slimming WorldMain contractor: Morgan Sindall ConstructionArchitect: CPMGWith its newly extended headquarters in Alfreton, Derbyshire, weight-loss organisation Slimming World wanted to create a landmark building for the brand that would both provide an ideal working and training space for its people and deliver excellent environmental performance.Glazing plays a key role in the £8.5 million scheme, both aesthetically and in terms of its use of energy.At the heart of the building is a large atrium with a full-height glass front elevation and a glazed roof running right to the back of the space. Meanwhile, one of the wings connected by the lobby area features large ‘picture windows’ that deliver views over the facility’s attractive, leafy grounds.High-performance envelopeBecause much of the building’s envelope is glazed, the designers faced the challenge of avoiding the need for an energy-intensive climate-control system to create a comfortable environment for users all-year-round.Lee Shaw, Business Development Manager at Pilkington United Kingdom, explained: “The twin challenges any building with extensive glazing faces are loss of heat on cold days and excessive heating as result of direct sunlight when the weather is warmer.“The combination of products we have supplied to this project use advanced coatings cleverly to minimise these two effects, helping to smooth out the peaks and troughs that can lead to uncomfortable temperatures, expensive heating and air-conditioning bills and wasted energy.”The curtain walling system uses double-glazed units manufactured by Pilkington, incorporating Pilkington Suncool™ 60/31 T solar-control glass and Pilkington Optitherm™ S1 Plus, a low-emissivity product.The solar-control glass features a state-of-the-art coating that transmits only 31 per cent of the sun’s energy, while still allowing for 60 per cent light transmittance, so that occupants still get a clear view outward.The low-emissivity glass meanwhile features a coating that reduces outward radiation of heat, so that less is allowed to leave the building on colder days.Uninterrupted viewsThe same glass is used in the atrium wall and roof but is held in place using the latest structurally glazed units from Schueco. These deliver glazed surfaces with ultra-low-profile frames to minimise interruption of views from the building, as well as daylight flowing into it.Extra strength is added to the atrium glazing by including a layer of laminated glass on the inner pane, to help the large units stand up to forces exerted on them by the wind and potentially the weight of snow during the winter.Lee Shaw continued: “This project demonstrates the range of glazing solutions we are able to offer, with a combination of curtain walling, structural glazing and roof glass, all of which has been manufactured in the UK.“The architect has used timber slats to deliver some degree of solar shading, but the extensive area of glazing enclosing the space means there would still be significant risk of excessive heat build-up. The glazing specified minimises this effect, saving energy and money while also delivering a more comfortable and stable year-round climate for those using the building.“This is also one of the first projects to feature Pilkington Suncool™ 60/31 Pro T glass, which is now fully manufactured in the UK, following recent re-location of production from Germany. It’s great that we’ve been able to combine a made-in-Britain success story with a new chapter for a well-loved British business.”The completion of the building is the latest chapter in the story of Slimming World, which started when founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE, then 21 years old, first began holding Slimming World groups in Alfreton in 1969. Now, 50 years later, there are 19,000 local groups across the UK and Ireland, run by a network of more than 5,500 self-employed Consultants.The new headquarters includes extensive training facilities, meeting and office spaces, as well as a brand new 550-seater restaurant for staff, guests and Consultants visiting for training.Paul James, Slimming World’s Facilities Manager, says: “People have always been at the heart of Slimming World’s success and so ensuring that our people – our head office staff and Consultants – have the facilities and environment they need to do the best job possible has been a real priority for us. The new building will ensure we have the facilities we need to train and support all of our fantastic Consultants who deliver exceptional service to our members to support them to lose weight and live healthier, happier lives.“Having large expanses of glass has provided us with a beautiful, light-filled space that will be comfortable and inviting for everyone who uses the building right through the year.”

Visitors are greeted into Reynaers Knowledge Centre through an automatic door beneath a sleek cantilever running the length of the building. They enter into a double-height showroom and reception area and can travel up the stairs on to a viewing platform overlooking the showroom. This allows guests to experience a true representation of the scale and quality of the products on display, including multi-level curtain walling, bifolding doors and accessible windows.

Designed by Chaplin Farrant The Nest is a new community sports facility funded by the charity partner of Norwich City football club, to help improve the health and well-being of local residents.The development includes an impressive refurbished clubhouse with changing rooms, physio room, event and conference spaces plus a café and IT suite. Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain wall and SPW600 aluminium windows have been used throughout the new building to give a light and airy feel. For inclusive access and security, a combination of SPW501 aluminium commercial doors and SD automatic sliding doors were installed.

Coventry University Group’s £14m state-of-the-art campus in Scarborough was opened in September 2016. The building was designed to make sure that there was plenty of open and flexible space to give students both room to study and socialise. Facilities include a library, café, classrooms and open learning decks. As for energy efficiency, the choice of Senior’s high performance SF52 curtain wall and SPW600e windows ensures that energy bills are kept to a minimum. The result is a very vibrant building with all the facilities that students need to succeed and enjoy university life.

Svetlina Educational Complex uses whiteboard paint to redesign a STEAM creative area for the next generation of masterminds as writable walls ensure higher collaboration, creativity and productivity. The latter are an innovation that perfectly matches the innovative spirit of the Primary School of this Educational Complex. ESCREO whiteboard paint has been applied as part of the refurbishment of the school to integrate the STEAM programme into its holistic education system which is under the auspices of UNESCO. Lusio Architects who took lead of the project knew that Svetlina and ESCREO are united by the idea of being innovators in their fields. You can read more about this project in the full interview with the Primary School where they also share what values are at the heart of this partnership in this project.

Taking sustainability to a new level, 8 Bishopsgate is tallest building in the UK to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A rating. Contributing to the low carbon footprint, Style, who offer moveable partitioning wall systems that are certified with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN15804, was contracted to work with architect, WilkinsonEyre and contractor, Brown and Carroll, to create flexible space on three levels.Utilising a combination of Dorma Huppe Variflex semi-automatic, solid and glazed moveable wall systems, Style created adaptable meeting and breakout areas to accommodate different sized groups and events whilst maximising the use of natural light.8 Bishopsgate is a landmark, 50-storey tower offering premium office space in central London. With sustainability a key element, the building boasts an array of architectural optimisations ranging from the recycling of heat from the cooling systems to the installation of the highest solar panels in London. Positioning the company and its products at the forefront of sustainability, Style not only holds the EPD, but is also accredited under the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System, ensuring operational processes maximise sustainability goals whilst limiting wasted resources.In addition to Style’s green credentials, the moveable walls installed at 8 Bishopsgate boast a 52db acoustic rating on the glazed walls, and a 59db rating on the solid walls, ensuring complete privacy between divided areas.Not forgetting aesthetics, on level 2 the solid walls are finished in a perforated timber veneer, and on level 50 a kvadrat steel cut trio fabric was applied, perfectly harmonising with the interior décor.On the concourse, Style installed a glazed sliding folding wall system allowing a private area to be created without compromising natural light.A combination of semi-automatic Dorma Huppe Variflex solid and glazed walls create adaptable meeting and breakout areas on the second floor. At the top of the building, a further semi-automatic Variflex moveable wall adds flexibility to an expansive conference facility with breathtaking views over London.

The new sixth form college located at the site of the city’s former Masonic Hall has been sympathetically restored and extended to provide a number of new facilities, whilst maintaining the building’s architectural grandeur. The construction materials for the new build elements were carefully specified to both complement and enhance the existing Italianate Villa style. Doors, windows and curtain walling from Senior’s innovative Hybrid range, which features aluminium on the exterior to provide a durable and low maintenance solution and engineered timber on the interior for a natural look and feel, provided the perfect solution.

London Wall Place is a new development, with more than 500.000m2, located in the heart of London, between Moorgate and Barbican. This development is comprised by two commercial buildings and will add a large green area to the city. The largest building has about 300.000m2 and rises to a height of 12 floors, and the remaining building, with about 12.000m2, has 16 floors. For this project’s façade weatherproofing, three Effisus solutions were used: Effisus VAP (vapour barrier), Effisus Breather+ (breathable membrane) and Effisus 2Bond DS (double-sided solution for sealing between two surfaces).

According to leading moveable wall specialist Style, demand for automatic moveable wall systems from architects, specifiers, contractors and end-user clients has almost quadrupled in the last 10 years. Reflecting a strong shift towards the automation of flexible space electrically-powered systems now make up 44% of the company’s total order intake, compared to just 27% in 2009 - a staggering increase of 388% in a decade. Style is the exclusive UK partner to DORMA Hüppe and Skyfold, both of which offer fully automatic solutions.

The Garden State Hotel is an iconic building in Melbourne. Accoya was chosen for a feature wall in the balcony dining room – a VIP space that looks out over the rest of the venue. Charred Accoya was used for the feature wall to add to the secluded and private feeling of the venue. The Accoya cladding was lined with a polyurethane finish. Other sections of the feature wall were finished with Woca internal maintenance oil. Accoya was also chosen due to its incredible finish and its ability to adapt to the unique and fresh looks offered by modern architecture.

The school underwent a complete refurbishment in September 2015 and chose to use a very pale blue paint scheme throughout most of the building. Within 3 months the areas within the school that see heavy traffic, including corridors and the dining hall had begun to show signs of scuffing and wear, due to the pupils knocking against the walls with their bags. The site manager at the school was concerned by the level of damage and began to consider wall protection products to combat the problem. Gradus supplied and fitted the school with wall protection solutions to prevent further damage.

A range of Gradus wall protection systems and flooring accessories have been installed at the University of Hull’s brand-new Health Campus, helping to improve the building’s safety and enhance the facility’s modern aesthetic. The new £28million Health Campus boasts the new five storey Allam Building which features a mock operating theatre, hospital wards and intensive care unit.

Biotecture designed and delivered this 110 sqm green wall which runs vertically through the central atrium of the new EQ commercial office development in Bristol. The internal living wall includes 17 different species and the planting plan selection reflects the River Avon running through Bristol.

Kroll (previously Duff & Phelps) operate within the risk and financial advisory sector, with UK offices based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter for which we had the pleasure of providing a Type G200 folding partition system during a recent refurbishment. The operable wall allows the space to be transformed from a large open plan area into two separate rooms as and when required.The Type G200 system offers impressive acoustic, achieving up to Rw 47dB when fully closed – minimising noise transfer between the two spaces, without compromising on light transfer. In this instance, a fully glazed, full height pass door allows for easy access between the two smaller rooms when the system is in use.

The aim of £12M refurbishment and remodelling of the 1960s Octagon theatre in Bolton was to make the building fully accessible, improve acoustics and provide new facilities for community use, upgraded performance areas and new front of house and back stage amenities. The design from JM Architects includes a 5-storey rear extension and an impressive modern new façade created using Senior’s thermally efficient SF52 curtain walling. This has been seamlessly integrated with SPW501 aluminium commercial doors for the new high traffic entrance and foyer, together with SPW600e aluminium windows for added daylight and ventilation.

350 square meters of wall designed, manufactured and installed by Grass Concrete Limited. A large scale hospital redevelopment site with a few added complications saw a need to construct an earth retaining wall but with high level services to one elevation, a pinch point to another and then for good measure the need to include a footbridge.

Designed by architects Studio E, the BREEAM Excellent rated building features over 2,000 Ultima aluminium insulated panels in varying lengths and depths up to 4500mm and 800mm respectively, finished in four different RAL colours The company also supplied a range of ventilated Bird’s Beak style panels, pressings, copings and cills that further added to the overall aesthetic of the building’s façade. The Ultima aluminium insulated panels were designed, supplied and manufactured by Metalline Architectural Fabrications. Metalline has become one of the UK’s leading fabricators of specialist architectural fabrication in the UK, developing innovative solutions for a range of flagship projects. Finished in four different RAL colours – reed green, pastel green, light green and mint turquoise – the overall effect of the multi coloured, multi-dimensional panels is one of inspiration that sits perfectly with the ultimate goals of the Academy’s vision for its pupils future. Metalline’s Ultima aluminium insulated panels are extremely versatile and possess excellent acoustic, thermal and fire performance ratings. They are typically produced using class A1 non-combustible insulation core and can be adapted to fit a variety of facade details, which include the ability to be glazed into a standard curtain walling or structural glazing system. The panels can also be perforated and manufactured into a variety of shapes to meet the most challenging design criteria. Ultima aluminium insulated panels can be fabricated up to an impressive 6000mm in one length.

The striking angular design of the £16 Million, five-storey headquarters for safety equipment specialists Arco, forms part of the regeneration of the historic waterfront Fruit Market area in Hull. To the front elevation, the stunning façade created using Senior’s thermally efficient SF52 curtain wall makes a tremendous first impression, whilst SPW501 PAS24 certified commercial doors and Secured By Design Certified SPW600 windows ensure safety and security.With its glass fronted atrium, open plan work spaces, social meeting areas and auditorium for presentations, Arco now has the facilities to meet future needs as the company continues to grow. 

Cotton Field Wharf is the first scheme to be completed as part of Manchester Life’s plans to create over 1000 new private rental homes across the Ancoats area of Manchester. The 302 new apartments benefit from Senior’s patented PURe® casement windows, which offer some of the lowest U-values available on the UK market. Senior’s PURe® FOLD doors open onto private terraces, which enjoy picturesque views overlooking the marina. On the lower levels, SF52 curtain walling and SPW501 doors have been used to frame the communal areas, and maximise the sense of light and space.

ESSENZA HOME opts for a sustainable green façadeInterior and lifestyle brand ESSENZA HOME has moved into a new, completely renovated office in Bunnik in 2021. The new office is entirely sustainability-oriented. The Mobilane green façade at Essenza Home contributes to the company’s sustainability vision and provides a warm welcome for its retailers, customers, and staff. Family business ESSENZA HOME has been designing, producing, and distributing home & living products to suit various interior styles for 60 years. In 2021, the company moved to a new office in Bunnik. The building of no less than 2500 m2 is located directly on the A12 motorway. The new premises was built with an eye to the future and aligned with their sustainability vision. Therefore, the sustainable green Mobilane façade was a logical choice.Installation of the green façadeThe installation of the green walls was quick and easy. The green walls, with a total surface area of over 200 square meters, were placed against the stone and wooden façade by means of Magnelis steel omega profiles. The design incorporated the window and door sections and the water and electricity pipes.The almost 10,000 plants are installed in modular cassettes and pixels attached to the profiles. All of the cassettes, pixels, and covers are made of a fire-retardant EPP (B-s2, d0). This material is light, UV-resistant, air-permeable (for good root growth), and fully recyclable. An automated irrigation system provides the MobiPanel green walls with water and nutrients.Plant selection for the green façadeThe plants in the green facades were selected according to various factors. The orientation of the façade, the different flowering seasons, plants that stimulate biodiversity, and, finally, aesthetics were all considered. For example, Bregenis ‘Bressingham White’ is a beautiful spring bloomer with elegant white flowers that bloom from April onwards. The Vinca minor is a strong evergreen covering plant. It also flowers very early in spring. Vinca minor can be used on facades in both sunny and shady spots. The Vinca will produce more flowers in the sun than in the shade. Geranium Rozanne is a carrier plant for wild bees. Many species of wild bees, as well as butterflies and bumblebees, find their nectar here.Advantages of the green façadeThe green wall on the two outer walls is a real eye-catcher. Floor Smits, Head of Brands and second generation in the family business: “As a family business, we find it important to focus on the long term. During the renovation, we, therefore, invested heavily in sustainable solutions. When we were introduced to the possibility of a vertical garden for the façade, we were immediately enthusiastic. The green wall has many advantages, such as purifying the air, increasing biodiversity, and providing a nice haven for bees and other insects. Finally, we want to make a statement and show that we are committed to a sustainable world.” In addition to the office, there is also a b2b showroom and a brand store will be opened for consumers this year.Increased biodiversityRosalie Smits, Head of Channels and also the second generation of the family business, indicates that biodiversity is an important spearhead for the organization.The green façade attracts many insects, thus stimulating biodiversity in the area. As described earlier, the flowers of Geranium Rozanne, among others, provide nectar for many insects such as the wild bee and butterflies. Wild bees and butterflies are an important link in our food chain. They provide 60% of the pollination of our fruit and vegetables.The facades also attract various birds and other insects and serve both as food and as nesting and hiding places. In the cassettes between the plants, birds can nest safely. The first bird’s nest in the green façade at Essenza Home was found just a few weeks after installation.Client: ESSENZA HOMEArchitect: BK PuntConstruction period: 2021Installation: MobiCare

The new headquarters of interior design brand Brabantia in Valkenswaard was recently completed. Several green living walls have been installed in the office, contributing to the company’s sustainable image. The entire office was built according to the BREEAM standard, designed by Gert Jan Kruijning of AA Architects. The vertical greenery in the building was installed by Ten Brinke Interieurbeplanting.Sustainable DesignBrabantia’s new head office was built climate-neutral according to BREEAM standards. The building’s skeleton is made entirely of wood. The green walls in the office bring in the more natural look and also provide many benefits such as oxygen production and an improved indoor climate.Thomas Deenen, Commercial Director Brabantia Benelux & DACH: ‘Implementing vertical greenery in the design was an idea of the architect, following Brabantia’s requirements. The requirements were; lots of green, sustainable, pleasant atmosphere and a natural transition from outside to inside. The green living walls are a real eye-catcher, a real image-defining part of the interior. The vertical green looks very nice, gives a warm and natural feeling and a fresh smell’.Innovative and sustainable green wall systemThe green walls were installed by Mobilane dealer Ten brinke Interieurbeplanting using the LivePanel Indoor system. LivePanel Indoor is an innovative and sustainable system in the field of vertical greenery. It is suitable for installation against new and existing walls. It is possible to water the green walls manually, automatically or by means of a tank. For the walls at Brabantia, automatic watering was the option chosen.A century of quality and designBrabantia started out in 1919 as Van Elderen & Co in Aalst, producing milk churns, jugs, sieves and funnels. Over the years, Brabantia has grown into a global interior design brand, known for its smart and stylish household products.Client: BrabantiaArchitect: AA ArchitectenConstruction period: 2022Installation: Mobicare

Many educational establishments now benefit from one or more partitioning wall systems, delivering flexibility to available space by allowing smaller classrooms to be quickly created, as required. As with any product, the lifespan of a moveable wall can be dramatically extended with routine servicing and timely repairs. Partitioning experts Style, recommends a service contract as the most cost-effective solution, helping ensure safe operation and maximum acoustic performance long into the future. Style also offers a ‘call out’ service for one-off repairs and emergencies and can service almost any moveable wall, even if they were not involved in the original installation