Exterior living wall
|
Eden at New Bailey
An iconic project for Viritopia and the industry at large, Europe’s largest living wall redefined benchmarks in sustainable building design.
Background
The vision behind the largest living wall in Europe
In the heart of Manchester, amidst concrete and brick, stands a 12-storey office building that’s wrapped in vegetation. A3 Salford is green from top to bottom, both inside and out, and fittingly named, “Eden.”
Working in line with the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework, Make Architects considered sustainability in every detail behind Eden’s design. Drawings included:
- A rooftop garden with bird boxes and bug hotels
- Renewable energy technologies
- Rainwater harvesting and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
- Recycled building materials, including a refurbished gym floor
- Health and wellness amenities for occupants
These features — and countless more details beneath the surface — combine to deliver an office building that’s net zero carbon in operation. But Eden’s impact is most clearly expressed through one defining characteristic: a 3,900m² living wall across all four elevations of the building.
Eden’s green wall is Europe’s largest, and one of the largest in the world (behind Khalifa Avenue, a 7,000m² green façade also delivered by Viritopia.) With dense planting and rich texture across the building’s curved exterior, the green wall stands out in Salford’s skyline and brings recognition to Eden’s environmental impact.
“Whilst the building’s technology and construction operate unseen, Eden’s external appearance defines its sustainable credentials.”
Muse
Strategy
Designing biodiversity into the building from day one
To optimise the building’s biodiversity net gain (BNG) potential, Eden was planned with a green wall from the start. Planting space was factored into the drawings so that the foliage would complement the architecture; not cover it.
Key factors like irrigation and maintenance were also considered early. A 20,000 litre tank captures rainwater for irrigation, while a crane system on the roof helps provide access to all areas of the building for plant maintenance and window cleaning.
Original designs for the living wall included a freestanding steel frame and planters, as well as wires and climbing plants. Our consultants proposed a modular, soil-based system instead, which helped the development achieve:
- Significant cost savings
- Embodied carbon savings (reduced carbon footprint from manufacturing and installation)
- Enhanced biodiversity and natural insulation benefits due to greater volume of soil
- Denser coverage, especially along the curved architecture
Eden’s curved face was a unique challenge. Our modular system can be faceted around the radius of a curve. The foliage masks any small gaps, creating a seamless appearance.
We grew Eden’s plants at our nursery, starting as small plugs — no larger than your thumbnail. While this meant a longer growth period, it delivered cost savings and resulted in plants that were more resilient by the time of installation.
No items found.
The strategy behind Eden’s plant palette
How do Viritopia’s living wall consultants choose which plants to use for each wall? We account for the project’s key objectives and outdoor conditions, including temperature, wind, and direct sunlight.
For Eden, biodiversity and visual impact were key drivers. We designed the plant palette with an ivy veil that blends the building into nature, seasonal bulbs for colour, and a diverse mix of species selected to:
- Attract native pollinators
- Offer habitats for birds and insects
- Provide fruit for wildlife
- Filter pollutants and absorb dust
- Withstand wind at higher elevations
Impact
Eden is one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings
With 16 tonnes of soil, 33 plant species, and more than 350,000 plants, the end product lives up to its name. Eden is a lush vertical garden in a thriving urban center — providing a wide variety of benefits to its tenants.
Greenery can be seen from every window of the building, creating a constant connection to nature that supports mental health and wellbeing for those inside. For businesses based at Eden, the building signals a commitment to sustainability and positions brands as a choice employer, supporting recruitment and retention efforts.
Beyond its social and economic impact, Europe’s largest living wall helps shape a healthier environment.
- 2,000% BNG increase With the living wall, the plot significantly exceeds its baseline biodiversity value.
- Air purification Strategically chosen plant species filter dust and capture carbon.
- Energy efficiency Plants and soil can help insulate a building, reducing energy needs and costs.
- Noise reduction The foliage absorbs sounds from the A6, a busy route by the square.
- Natural cooling Urban greening (especially at this scale) helps mitigate the urban heat island effect.
- Eco-friendly irrigation The development uses rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation technology.
No items found.
Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Eden at New Bailey
–
Manchester, UK
Every aspect of the buildings’ design and specification has been considered to make this the most healthy, green, environmentally friendly, and sustainable office building in the market. It has been used as one of the UK Green Building Council’s examples of a sustainable office building.
Phil Marsden
Eden Project Director, ECF
Project gallery
_c.avif)
_c.avif)
-5_c.avif)
_c.avif)
_c.avif)
_c.avif)
_c.avif)
_c.avif)
No items found.
Updates
Two years out, Eden is thriving
Today, Viritopia continues to look after Eden’s living wall, providing regular maintenance visits to ensure it stays healthy and vibrant. Our maintenance contract includes plant replacement, so when a small amount of plants succumbed to natural causes, we replaced them before it became a visible issue from the ground level.
Photos from the winter season show the wall still full, textured, and breathing life into Salford.
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
No items found.
Want to see Eden up close?
Take a tour of Eden, led by our environmental consultants.
Explore similar case studies
Moor Place
The plants chosen were to give year-round colour and interest whilst also creating a natural and bio-diverse backdrop in an area famous for its glass and concrete.
Office buildings
Modular
88 Wood Street
We are excited to share our part in this stunning example of biophilic design, combining natural light, open space, living walls and ‘hanging’ baskets and planters.
Office buildings
Modular
Dubai Properties Group
Installed by certified partner Desert Group, the Viritopia Living Wall beside the three-storey staircase provides a stunning plant backdrop.
Office buildings
Modular
XL Catlin
A bespoke double-sided living wall for XL Catlin's reception area, fabricated by Viritopia with a curved wooden framework. Weight was a critical consideration.
Office buildings
Modular
Keen to green your next project?
Make history with Viritopia
Partner with the team behind the world’s largest and most awarded living walls.
Let’s build your city’s greenest landmark.
