Innovative ‘living vending machines’ launch in UK

On a UK train station platform, an innovative new application for Mobilane’s LivePanel has taken shape in the form of the first-ever “living vending machines”.
Bournemouth train station is a busy passenger terminal in one of the UK’s best-known seaside towns. Now, this busy indoor environment has been brought to life with the addition of the first-ever “living vending machines”. They are designed to brighten up the space using a simple, small-scale LivePanel system, bringing the benefits of biophilic design to passengers.

Pioneering spirit

Everyday environments such as train stations are an under-utilized space when it comes to bringing people closer to nature. The greening of such spaces not only has the potential to improve wellbeing, but it can also enhance the air quality and boost biodiversity. Using a set of vending machines to realize these benefits proved to be a new design challenge. In a project led by PHS Greenleaf for Decorum Vending, Mobilane’s green systems turned out to be the solution. With a shared commitment to passenger wellbeing and environmental impact, the design team has collectively redefined expectations of how everyday amenities such as vending machines can contribute to public space. “No-one had designed a living wall to wrap over a vending machine before. As such, we were genuinely leading the way, exploring ways to adapt good quality wall systems that we know and trust so they could be used in this unique setting,” Stephen Dieppe, Managing Director of phs Greenleaf, who led the design and installation of the walls, comments.

Compact solutions

A unique project of this kind demanded a unique LivePanel system. Despite the machines measuring just 90 x 180 cm and the technical challenges posed by air vents, the adaptability and compactness offered by the LivePanel system enabled the design team to find a green solution, with just six cassettes fitted to each wall. What’s more, they were able to inconspicuously integrate the compact, interchangeable cassettes, and the irrigation system, into the wall. This was of paramount importance for such a small-scale project. Despite the small size, each machine wall still has 54 handpicked plants on it. The varieties used were specially selected for their hardiness, and their ability to thrive in shady settings. Collectively, they are projected to absorb nearly 5 kg of carbon and produce 2.4 kg of oxygen every year.

Green business

Despite them being just the first pioneering step into “living vending machines”, the machines are already turning heads in the industry. On top of that, the machines are driving sponsorship deals. Like a lot of businesses, drinks brands are keen to support and associate with forward-thinking approaches to urban greening, which bodes well for similarly innovative solutions in the future.