ELMICH’S GREENWALL REACHES UNPRECEDENTED HEIGHTS

Elmich Singapore has just completed the largest greenwall installation in the world. The ITE Headquarters and College Central in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore has been transformed into facades of living green vegetation, which cover the internal and external walls of 9 campus blocks and the rooves of 3 campus blocks. Standing at 35m tall and totalling 5,300 m2, the project aimed to fulfill the college’s eco-initiative to create an environment conducive to learning.

The system comprises Vertical Greening Modules (VGM®) containing a geotextile bag filled with EnviroMix® GW (a primarily inorganic lightweight planting media) anchored onto stainless steel pilasters. An automated irrigation system delivers water and nutrients directly to plant roots to ensure healthy plant growth.

Elmich VGM® Green Wall system is a highly engineered architectural living wall system utilising UV-stabilised plastic modules and stainless steel support brackets and pilasters that enable easy mounting and dismounting of VGMs during installation and maintenance. The system is certified to withstand wind uplift from various directions at 110km/h with no noticeable damage. Extremely versatile, the VGM modules were also easily adapted to accommodate the demanding design requirements of the project.

Over 2,400 sq m of roof space was greened using the Elmich Extensive Greenroof system. VersiDrain 25P® drainage and water retention trays were placed directly over the waterproofing and overlaid with a geotextile and a lightweight engineered growing media. Pearl Grass was selected for its heat tolerance and low maintenance and an automated pop-up irrigation system was installed to ensure abundant growth, maximising the benefits of this greenroof.

Eight pyramid gardens were erected in the atrium using VersiWeb®. The web panels were secured onto the eight structures using rebar anchors cast in the concrete. The cells were filled with planting media and a plastic mesh used to blanket the web to prevent media spillage. An automated irrigation system was installed to provide water and nutrients directly to the roots of the plants, whilst perforations in the VersiWeb® cell walls allow the water to infiltrate from one cell to another, providing drainage and avoid hydrostatic pressure buildup.

This living, breathing installation will surely reinvigorate and revitalise the working and studying environment.