For those of us that live in the countryside of the northern hemisphere, it is very clear that spring is in the air. The signs of change are all around. The days are getting milder and lighter, birds can be seen building nests and flowers are appearing adding vibrant splashes of colour. Nature is waking up after the winter.
In stark contrast, the half of the world’s population that lives in cities will hardly notice this change. It might be getting warmer outside, but the endless grey of the urban landscape shows no sign of life waking up with the seasons. The theory of biophilia suggests that humans have an innate connection to nature, the coming of spring causes nature to wake up and this can have an effect of us making us more awake and happier.
This can change with the introduction of green spaces. Many cities do already have parks, allotments, sports fields, rivers and waterways which serve as small green pockets and corridors in the city. To add more of these green spaces is a challenge for urban planners, the ever increasing value of space in cities makes it hard to justify dedicating space to landscaping. Many building authorities insist on certain percentages of a scheme being dedicated to green space, so the logical choice has been to develop ways of bringing plants into wasted spaces. This is exactly what Viritopia is all about.
The burst of life that spring brings can be added to the bleakest urban areas. A living wall makes use of an existing building façade and clads it in a living breathing ecosystem. As can be seen in this example of the Viritopia Living Wall at the University of York, the bulbs planted in the living wall form swathes of pink flowers.
In autumn, the leaves of specific plant types in the living wall will change colour much like those of deciduous trees. We make sure the living wall has sufficient evergreen planting to still give coverage and look stunning at all times of year.
While many roofs might not be seen, the addition of a green roof will give a number of improvements. As the sedum flowers or wildflowers on the roof open in spring they provide a source of nectar for bees, butterflies and other insects. The plants also help purify the air; if spring is in the air, it should be clean air!
If you’re interested in finding out how we can give a stunning touch of seasonal change to your project, get in touch now.
Insulation is an important consideration for buildings of all types, and regulating temperatures can be achieved in a number of ways. Green roofs and living walls are a great way of using nature to regulate a buildings temperature, keeping buildings cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Flat roofs can absorb a lot of heat on a hot day and add to the burden on a buildings air conditioning. As our green roof modules retain rainwater they have a cooling effect and the plants absorb the sun’s rays keeping the building cooler. In winter the plants also keep the building warmer preventing snow and ice from building up on the waterproof membrane.
