Ecological upgrade of the HOFER branch with a blooming, green facade

The spacious car park with surrounding shops in the Atzgersdorf district of the 23rd district of Vienna was due for an upgrade to sustainability and needed to become more ecological in order to contribute to the restoration of greenery in the area.

A friendlier and greener image is created by adding green spaces, trees and parks around the car park and shops, benefiting the living environment for both people and animals. The management of HOFER KG initiated this project and also wanted to contribute with a green facade for the branch.

Active in climate protection

HOFER is actively committed to climate protection. Their motto is “Sustainable measures for a GOOD FUTURE.” “Green facades, the reduction of the heat island effect and the associated increase in quality of life in the immediate vicinity of the shops are key components of this.” The idea for the green facade had already gained good support from management and since a branch in England had previously installed something similar, they were quickly convinced by the Mobilane system.

MobiPanel meets the ‘green’ expectations

In search of a party capable of realizing such a project, they came into contact with landscape architect Dipl.-Ing. Ralf Dopheide from GartenBox, who helped further develop the idea. Mr. Dopheide is also active as an ecological advisor at ‘Grün statt Grau’ (Integrated Knowledge Centre for Green Building), an organization dedicated to bringing more greenery to the city, and therefore has knowledge of and experience with various green systems. However, it turns out that some systems do not deliver the expected results and are not easy to install or maintain. The MobiPanel system from Mobilane meets expectations; it is easy and modular to install, has an attractive black backing, is cohesive and covering, and provides excellent water supply.

Facade greening as a tool for ecological revitalization

HOFER’s goal, in addition to its ecological contribution, was to create a lush green facade with subtle floral colours that align with the brand’s identity and logo, which has a prominent place in the center of the facade. “It is also important for us to have a wide selection of robust, frost-resistant perennials and herbs that surprise with new and attractive blooms from spring to autumn.” In response to this request, Ralf Dopheide created a planting plan focused on evergreen plants and blooms in yellow, red and orange hues.

The facade was entirely built up with empty cassettes, after which the substrate was applied and the plants were placed in. It was a challenge to get the plants into good condition on the facade, as it was very hot during the installation. Some plants drooped a bit due to the heat, but they recovered beautifully in the well-watered system. After four weeks, the facade was fully covered and green, despite the heat during its construction.

Facade greening creates habitats and food for many insect species

HOFER says: “On extremely hot days, the air temperature and surface temperature of the building are lowered, and the relative humidity is increased. This significantly contributes to improving the quality of life in the city. The reduction of fine dust, oxygen production, CO2 binding and noise pollution are other benefits of green facades, especially in larger cities.

In addition to the microclimatic effects and advantages, we want to use facade greening to make the area around the store more attractive and to revitalize it in an ecologically valuable way. Facade greening creates habitats and food for many insect species, such as bees and butterflies, thereby promoting biodiversity.”

Satisfaction and praise all around

Passersby and customers enjoy looking at the facade and respond very positively and enthusiastically to the plants and the overall appearance. The bee hotel that HOFER proudly added near the facade also attracts a lot of attention and positivity.

There is widespread acclaim and praise for the excellent collaboration between HOFER, Dopheide and Mobilane, as well as for the end result and the positive experience with the MobiPanel green facade system. “As a green and landscaping company, GartenBox, we receive great support from the Mobilane team. The result is a lush and blooming facade that was already green just a few days after planting,” says Ralf Dopheide. “Definitely worth repeating,” both HOFER and Ralf Dopheide agree. And that repetition is on the way, as another HOFER branch is already planned for greening.

Technical details:

– Project: HOFER KG, branch Gatterederstraße in Vienna
– Planning and execution: Landscaping and Gardening Company GartenBox in Vienna, Ing. Ralf Dopheide
– Product: MobiPanel from Mobilane with custom planting by GartenBox
– Area: 62 square-metres
– Installed in June 2024
– photography by: Manfred Sodia Photography