Mobilane launches a 'picture' worth a thousand breaths

We are breathing fresh air indoors and out with the launch of our latest innovation, LivePicture – a framed arrangement of plants that can be hung on either interior or exterior walls. The living ‘picture’ creates a striking, space-saving focal point, as well as offering a natural way to improve air quality.
 

We have created it to meet the increasing demand for inventive ways to use plants, which have long been valued for the health benefits and sense of wellbeing they bring but which, in traditionally planted schemes, can take up valuable space

Each of our LivePictures feature a specially developed nutritionally balanced mineral substrate able to support a wide variety of plant types, depending on available lighting and level of maintenance needed. Measuring 112cm wide (plus 0.5cm for the frame), by 72cm (plus 0.5cm for the frame), the frame is 10cm deep and incorporates a built-in reservoir. The picture, which weighs around 30kg, is attached to the wall with three bolts; it requires no power, no water supply or drainage system, and only needs watering once a month.

For a compact product, the health benefits of our LivePicture are broad. Inadequate air conditioning, ventilation, emissions from computers, printers and paint all contribute towards indoor levels of carbon dioxide and particulate pollutants, while outdoor levels of pollution can be exceptionally high in urban areas.  To counteract this, plants can provide a pleasant humidity; remove carbon dioxide and particulate pollutants. In addition, research has shown that plants can reduce stress, improve mood and, in the case of indoor planting,  increase productivity in the workplace. 

For more information about Mobilane’s products, please visit www.mobilane.co.uk

2013 'A Year of Air'

Europe – in particular the European Union – is very much in the news at the moment. David Cameron stated earlier this week on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he is looking to seek a ‘fresh settlement’ with Europe and is due to make a much-anticipated speech on the issue on Friday. 

Whatever your views on Britain’s involvement with Europe, 2013 looks like it will be an important year when it comes to the formulation of EU air pollution policy. This year is the EU’s Year of Air. For those unfamiliar with this initiative, it is a time when EU air pollution policy will be revised.

With a recent survey by Eurobarometer, the EU’s public opinion poll analysts informing us that the majority of EU citizens do not think their governments do enough to tackle harmful pollutants, now is a good a time as any to join together and push for appropriate legislation to be put in place across the entire region to create standards that will drastically reduce the level of pollutants in the air and so decrease the public health consequences.

Only last year the EU ruled that the UK is already in breach of its air quality directive and that 16 areas of the UK will not meet the legal NO2 limits by 2015.  But what is government putting in place to help resolve this?

Introducing more greenery into the inner city areas where the PM10 and other pollutant levels are at their highest is a quick and easy step to begin improving air quality. Encouragingly, a number of local councils and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, are beginning the process of introducing living walls and green screens in order to absorb pollutants. 

Why use living walls and green screens? Well, planting trees is all very well, however time is needed for them to establish themselves in their new home and grow.  Green screens, such as ours, are a more convenient choice as they can begin to work on reducing the levels immediately. We have seen a growth in interest for these and now even sell screens that are as high as 3 meters. 

Local authorities should be held more responsible and be given further support in reducing the air pollutants in their areas. With some co-ordinated thinking, hopefully the EU’s Year of Air can help them achieve this – for the sake of everyone’s lungs.

Work with researchers and clients undertaken to highlight benefits of welI designed green spaces

We have started a pioneering partnership with academics from Staffordshire University which we believe will help both our existing and future customers better understand how well-managed green planted spaces can enhance wellbeing and help to solve social and environmental problems.

From improving mental health and reducing crime to improving air quality, the issues that the installation of a well-designed green space can resolve are diverse. In order to put these benefits on a more scientific footing, we, along with Staffordshire University, are asking clients – whether from the private or public sector – to come up with suggestions of what areas they would like investigating. Scientists from the university will then work with the client and us to research the precise benefits that these intelligently designed green spaces can bring to a particular area, for example building insulation, employee attendance rates or an improvement in general human well-being.

Clients will then have some scientific data that will enable them to fully grasp the problems that green spaces can help them solve.

Research by Staffordshire University is already under way and scientists are conducting a study which is investigating how successfully carefully designed green spaces influence biodiversity, improve building insulation and capture microscopic pollutants, thereby improving air quality and human health.

The current research being completed at Staffordshire University will help to provide more information on how pollutants known as PM10s – particulate matter that is less than 10 microns in diameter – are absorbed by plants. The reduction of PM10 levels is a focus of policy for the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The three-year research study, which is in its final year, is being carried out by PhD student under the supervision of two Professors at the University.  A variety of sophisticated scientific techniques and instruments are being used to understand the nature of a green space’s interaction with particulate matter, including an environmental scanning electron microscope, which is used to establish the size of particles that are trapped by plants. Once complete, the research is due to be published in a number of international peer-reviewed journals.

Through an on-going partnership with the university, we hope we will bring similar scientific rigour to research into the other benefits of carefully planned and maintained green spaces.

GUEST BLOG: Sustainable Design – Looking Towards the Future

Today we are featuring a guest blog from Lynda Smith of Denovo Design, an architectural practice based in Liverpool.

Here at Denovo design we have had an ongoing commitment to sustainable design over a number of years, and so were thrilled when in April 2012 this was formally endorsed with an NQA of ‘Sustainability Assessed’ accreditation.

 We view sustainability in its widest sense, with the three main drivers, Planet; People and Prosperity being integral to our design process.  Future-proofing the build by specification of durable and environmentally friendly products and technologies, along with interaction at all stages with a host of Stakeholders, before, during and after the build process is, therefore, crucial.

 Indeed, development of good partnerships is the very essence of sustainable design, and helps to contribute to the positive transferability of not only the environmental products, but also best practice in terms of neighbourhood in the short term, and more importantly in the long term - strengthening community backbone by encouraging social interaction.

 At our recently completed affordable housing project at Halton View for Halton Housing Trust, collaboration began even before inception with local resident and school children, and with families and Occupational Therapists, who advised on the specification of the bespoke bungalows with specialist disabled provision. 

 Such relationships are critical to the evolution of the design and to maximize its lasting effectiveness. At the end of the day, architecture is about people.

 We were therefore delighted to have an opportunity to work again on a social housing project with Mobilane, fellow like-minded professionals, sustainable champions, and suppliers of green ivy screens and living walls.

 Landscaping and ‘greening up’ of the development was a key element of the design concept, providing an uplifting aesthetic, beneficial to social health, and also providing essential ecological habitat. A first for Denovo was also the creation of a communal allotment to be managed by local school children, creating the opportunity for them to learn about healthy living and eating from an early age.

 It was fitting that a development with such environmental credentials should be showcased with a sizeable 180cm high green ivy wall, which, as well as acting as an attractive anti-vandal boundary for the two bespoke bungalows, spectacularly spans the main access to the site, making a strong environmental statement to residents and visitors alike.

 The ivy, as well as being low maintenance is also effective in absorbing harmful microscopic particles generated by vehicular traffic, and is therefore also valuable in terms of helping to combat pollution, especially in urban areas.

 The green screens, therefore, tick all the boxes ecologically, environmentally and sustainably, and contribute towards the points for the 'Code for Sustainable Homes'.

 It seems there can be no other way but onwards and upwards.....and, of course in growth terms ... outwards!

Denovo Design Limited, 89 Wood Street. Liverpool, L1 4NU   T: 0151 708 4999   F:  0151 708 5335
Follow Denovo on Twitter @DenovoDL

'The Green Organisation Built Environment and Architectural Heritage' Award-Winning Practice 2006-2012

Radisson Blu goes green!

When Radisson Blu opened its £22 million luxury 218-bedroom hotel at East Midlands Airport, it was keen to have some eye-catching and innovative features.  To help achieve this, the hotel became the first building in the country to feature a Mobilane LivePanel Indoor system, which they installed in their reception area.

The attractive living wall has helped the building achieve the highest ever BREEAM sustainability rating for a commercial hotel in the UK. BREEAM evaluations consider a whole host of desired sustainable features and take into account not only energy-saving factors but also look at the interior environment.  By installing the LivePanel Indoor system in the reception area, not only is the hotel ticking all the right boxes for the assessment criteria but it has also introduced a beautiful talking point that makes it stand out from the crowd.

The panel used by Radisson Blu is 10sqm and contains a variety of plants which were grown off-site and delivered ready for installation. The aesthetically pleasing centrepiece of the hotel reception took just one day to install and the only work needed prior to its installation was the fitting of some growing lights.  Among the many advantages of the wall is that it has its own integrated irrigation system and is self-contained, cutting out the need for any damp proofing behind the system.  The panel contains a specially developed substrate which helps the plants to establish themselves and thrive. The irrigation system is powered by a standard 240v supply and the wall requires minimal maintenance. Any work that is required is done by Hedera Screens, which installed it.

We have been given some great feedback from the hotel on the views that staff and guests have had about the living wall, all of which has been positive.  Our hope is that the LivePanel Indoor system will fire the imaginations of more interior designers and architects, who will be inspired to incorporate one into their latest project designs, whether offices, call centres, health centres, gyms, retail or business centres. Their potential application is immense.