Vertical Greening
vertical landscapes - podium planting
Mark Laurence is a UK pioneer in the living wall industry, having set up two living wall companies and developed hydroponic panels systems, now in use world-wide. He has worked on living walls indoors and out in USA, Norway, Iceland, Europe and UAE, some in the most challenging environments.
in 2007, Mark concieved of, and co-founded Biotecture, the UK's leading living wall company. He went on to run Vertology, where he developed some unique projects for dealing with air purification (eg. for Bane NOR, Norway's railway managers) and bespoke living wall systems. Since 2020, post Covid, he has reverted to a design and consultancy role.
Why Vertical Greening?
cleaner air and biophilia
Living walls and Facades
In urban spaces, there is often insufficient room to grow trees, not just above ground, but below ground too. Green biomass is vital to the air quality and health of a city, yet is often concentrated in parks and larger streets. A living wall requires little to no footprint and no root space. It works well in the urban canyon, cleaning air of particulates as the wind blows through the foliage.
Mark has worked on numerous air quality projects, including the iconic living wall at Edgware Road tube station, London. This wall was set up and monitored specifically to measure the ability of plants to capture pollution particulates, specifically pm10. Mark selected the plants, designed the planting and of course, it used the Biotecture Biowall hydroponic panel system. In the UAE, he has set up and run several exterior wall plant trials, some of which are still existant.
Mark consults on projects relating to urban vertical greening and podium planting internationally.
Planting designed to maximize air particulate capture. Edgeware Road (Biotecture)
Vertical planting can closely interact with other natural elements (Vertology)
Services Offered
relating to urban green infrastructure
Vertical Systems Design
Living walls systems advice/selection
Living wall planting design, indoors and out
Climbing plants, green facade systems
Podium planting design, soil specification
Tree planting in and on buildings
Innovation and bespoke system design
Integration of water features and living walls
Urban vertical ecosystems and NbS
Vertical green street screens and benches, modular concept, recirculating tank system
Passive air filtration prototype unit, Bane NOR, Oslo, Nationaltheatret Underground station
Urban Ecosystems
Nature based Solutions
Enhancing Biodiversity
Living walls can bring urban greening, biophilia and especially biodiversity to densly built up areas where it would otherwise be impossible. This is especially important in implimenting Nature based Solutions.
Many walls designed by MLD have been seen to harbour many insects, birds and even bats. Use of native, adaptive and insect pollinator plants is important in this respect.
Systems designed to accomodate smaller shrubs and sub-shrubs can hugely increase small bird nesting sites and food sources.
Planting design for a large vertical shrub wall project, UK. Shrubs were in a hydroponic planting medium
Trees in/on Buildings
podium planting
Getting it Right
Trees inside the building fabric, be it on a podium, in raised planters or within an atrium can be a fantastic asset, providing it is done correctly. That means matching species to the climatic conditions, rather than just arbitrary aesthetic choices. Correct planting method and medium, and irrigation are also essential.
Mark is currently involved in a number of projects in the UAE involving interior tree selection and siting.
Viewing trees in a Dutch nursery(Terminalia buceras) for a project in Abu Dhabi.
A section of interior podium planting, including mature tree selection.
A Sample of Previous Projects
living walls from around the world
Vertical Greening in Extreme Climates
I have worked in a range of climates, from Sub-Arctic (Greenland, Norway), arid climates (the UAE) and continental climates (Chicago), which can be both very hot and very cold. I have designed the (possibly) most Notherly outdoor green wall in Trondheim, Norway, at 62° latitude, whilst external lving walls in the UAE have to cope with temperatures which may reach 50°C.
On this page are just a few pictures of projects Mark has designed.
Living walls rise two floors by escalators in a Shopping Mall, Hamar, Norway
Living walls rise two floors by escalators in a Shopping Mall, Hamar, Norway
Exterior living wall to private villa, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
A five storey atrium indoor wall at Tronheim University, Norway
I would be very happy to discuss your project by phone, email or Zoom/Teams.
Site visits are charged as consultancy and cost reflects distance. Contact details are on Home page.
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