The greatest green façade in Europe

The world’s largest manufacturer of sports shoes opened their new European distribution centre in 2016 in the Belgian municipality of Laakdal.  To this, they added the extra accolade of the largest green façade in Europe with the creation of a 2000 square metre expanse of green wall, full of around 100,000 plants. The LivePanel system from Mobilane used to create this impressive natural façade was planted from a blend of carefully selected plants including Alchemilla, Bergenia, Campanula, Geranium and Nepeta. The ground-breaking new sports brand distribution centre functions entirely from renewable energy from solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal energy.

Saving water

BSI Bomenservice from Baarn has been responsible for the LivePanel installation and its ongoing maintenance. The giant plant wall is fitted with an integrated irrigation system that ensures the plants are regularly and consistently watered to maintain optimal moisture and nutrient levels. “The client sought a sustainable green facade with the minimum of water usage.  Through extensive supplier and product research, Mobilane’s LivePanel was chosen in consultation with the architectural office. The minimum water consumption, the relatively low weight and the proven effect of the green façade system in combination with the excellent price-quality ratio were the deciding factors.” explained a Mobilane and BSI Bomenservice spokesperson.

Innovation

The plant wall is constructed from our modular green façade system LivePanel. The green wall requires no ground base and contains a total of 11,000 interchangeable plant cassettes. Each row of cassettes is placed in an aluminum gutter profile that also serves as a water buffer. The plants in the cassettes are automatically supplied with water by a capillary watering system that is controlled by sensors in the wall. The innovative system is low-maintenance, leak-proof and reliable. The plant wall is fully recyclable when dismantled.