Exterior living wall
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Hardman Square Pavilion
Light, airy, and evergreen, the Pavilion’s green façade has made it one of most unique buildings in Manchester.
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The vision behind the Pavilion
Hardman Square Pavilion sits at the centre of Spinningfields, a key commercial district in Manchester. Surrounded on all sides by glass and steel buildings, the Pavilion was designed to bring nature and warmth into a square that was dominated by architecture.
Sustainability was central to the vision for the development. Its design incorporated:
- Recycled materials
- Timber (chosen for its low carbon impact)
- Planting across four storeys
The planting was meant to help blend the building in with the adjacent green space of the Square and “soften” the architecture without weighing it down. It needed to feel light and not too dense - just the right amount of green. We were brought in to deliver on the vision for this Manchester green wall.
A blend of approaches for a “gently green” façade
This type of façade was a first for Viritopia. The project called for a green wall that was open and airy, but still felt a bit wild — almost as if the building had been overtaken by nature.
To deliver this, we blended a variety of approaches:
- Façade planters
- Wire mesh panels with climbing plants
- Gabion boxes for trailing and hanging plants
- Roof planters
Beyond aesthetics, our design factored in irrigation, weight, and weather. We routed irrigation pipes into each trough, worked with architects to ensure the building could manage the weight loading, and accounted for wind exposure — bolting the mesh panels directly to the troughs for stability.
For the plant palette, we used a mix of evergreen and deciduous species:
- The evergreen plants keep their leaves year-round, so the façade always looks green.
- The deciduous plants add seasonal variation in texture and colour.
Finally, we pre-planted the troughs offsite and craned them into position. The plants filled out across the mesh within about a year.
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Façade planters vs. modular living walls
Considering different approaches to green façades for an upcoming project? Modular and planter greening systems differ in a several key ways:
- Visual effect: Modular systems offer full, dense coverage. Planter-based systems are more open - you can still see the façade behind the plants.
- Time to establish: Modular walls can be completely pregrown to look full on installation day. Climbing plants on a planter system can be pregrown to an extent, but will take some time to fill out after installation.
- Biodiversity potential: Modular systems support a wider variety of plants, including native species, making them better suited for biodiversity - driven projects.
- Environmental impact: Modular walls allow for more plants (sometimes hundreds of thousands) in a small space, strengthening the façade’s ability to capture carbon, filter particulates, and reduce the urban heat island effect.
- Maintenance: With a greater volume of plants, modular systems require more upkeep to stay lush. An established planter system is largely self-sustaining.
Explore our green wall systems
IMPACT
A perfect fit for The Ivy
The Pavilion drew attention immediately - even before it was finished. Its nature-led design and appearance provided an ideal home for The Ivy, a high-end UK restaurant brand known for its commitment to sustainability. Several years later, The Ivy continues to occupy the space and the building remains the talk of the town.
- Biophillic designThe planting offers a connection with nature in the middle of a busy commercial district, supporting wellbeing.
- Low Maintenance
Now well established, the climbing plants and planters are mainly self-sustaining year over year.. - Brand Expression
The Ivy’s green façade is a physical expression of the brand’s nature-led identity and sustainability values.
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Keen to green your next project?
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Keen to green your next project?
Partner with the team behind the world’s largest and most awarded living walls.
