Impressive living walls to enhance the new International Finance Centre in Jersey

The International Finance Centre in Jersey is the home to a MobiPanel living wall at the entrance to the car park measuring 120m². The project is installed by the well-established Jersey-based landscaper CA Frazier Group Limited. This family-owned landscaping business, founded in 1988, offers a broad range of landscaping services to both commercial and domestic clients. CA Frazier Group offers expertise to the installation of the Mobilane suite of vertical greening solutions.

Automated irrigation and green design

CA Frazier Landscape Solutions installed the living wall using the MobiPanel system specified by the construction firm ROK Limited. The project is part of the development of Jersey’s newest International Finance Centre (IFC6) office block. The design team proposed a living wall to soften the appearance of the walls leading down to the underground garage. The system has a fully automated irrigation system installed, and CA Frazier worked with Mobilane to get the perfect design for the project.

‘’The system was quicker and easier to install than any other system we have used before. The system is very robust and the quality of the product is immediately apparent. We also found the installation time was shorter compared to systems we have worked with,’’ confirms Stuart Frazier, CEO CA Frazier Group Limited.

Public praise for stunning green façade

The green façade measures just over 28 metres in length and varies from 3.2 metres in height to about 600 millimetres at its lowest point. The MobiPanel living wall is installed on both the East and West sides. Thanks to its modular design, the system allows for complete customisation, making it possible to create a green façade tailored to any project’s specific needs. The corrosion-resistant profiles can be installed both horizontally and vertically, offering flexibility for varying wall heights, while the plant cassettes (40 x 40 centimetres) and quarter cassettes (20 x 20 centimetres) provide versatile design options. ‘’While we were installing the system, the general public responded very positively to the addition of plants on the site. They commented on how plants really ‘softened’ the appearance of the building and that they thought the living wall was stunning!’’ says Frazier.

Carefully chosen plant mix supports local ecosystems

A diverse range of plants was chosen for the project, with selections varying based on their location and suitability for light, partial, or deep shade. The mix includes: Carex ‘Evergold’, Polypodium vulgare, Helleborus niger, and Geranium ‘Rozanne’. The selection of these plants have been carefully made to promote biodiversity, encouraging a diverse range of wildlife and supporting local ecosystems.

Tailored planting plan adapts to environmental factors

As part of the project, careful attention is given to the positioning and orientation of the building in relation to the surrounding environment. This plays a crucial role in the development of the planting plan. Mobilane’s technical support team ensures that the plan takes into account factors such as sunlight exposure, wind patterns, shading caused by the building and the use of native plant species. By analysing these elements, the planting scheme is tailored to optimise plant health and growth, selecting species that will thrive in the specific conditions around the building. This thoughtful approach helps create a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing landscape that harmonizes with the architecture.

Photography by: Max Burnett

Technical details:
– Project: International Finance Centre
– Specified by: ROK Limited
– Project management: CA Frazier Group Limited
– Product: MobiPanel living wall
– Plant species: Dryopteris erythrosora, Asplenium scolopendrium, Polystichum setiferum plumoso densum, Arachniodes simplicior variegata, Polypodium vulgare, Helleborus niger, Heuchera fire chief, Heuchera paris, Viola adorata, Acorus gramineus ogon, Epimedium rubrum & Epimedium versicolor sulphureum.