Arup, together with Grosvenor have unveiled an innovative new ‘living wall’ in Mayfair which has the potential to reduce air pollution by up to 20%.
The structure, which is being trialled in the UK for the first time, has been installed on scaffolding at the St Mark’s building, a Grade I listed property. Grosvenor is transforming the property to create new retail and community space, which is due to complete in 2017.
The wall, named ‘Living Wall Lite’, spans 80m² and comprises a mixture of grasses, flowers and strawberries, reducing the visual impact of scaffolding on local residents. As well as improving air quality, it also, studies have also shown that living walls have been found to reduce noise pollution by up to 10 decibels.
The wall has been designed by Arup and manufactured by Swedish living wall specialist Green Fortune, and will be fitted with sensors to monitor its impact on noise, temperature and air pollution.