Case Study Portakabin Office
Portakabin Office, Surbiton, Surrey
Completed: 2017 - 2023
The Brief
To cover a portakabin office with a Living Wall without damaging the fabric of the building to enable it to blend into the surrounding landscape.
The Challenge
There were two main challenges;
- How to support the Living Wall without fixing into the fabric of the building
And
- How to provide a scalloped top to the living wall to disguise the roofline.
The Approach (Design & logistics)
The treated timber sub frame structure was constructed off the hard landscaping surround and fixed to the steel lifting brackets on the portacabin to prevent lateral movement.
Using this construction method, we were able to transfer the load from the green wall directly onto the ground via the sub frame. IE no load onto the portackabin itself
The green wall panels that formed the scalloped top row were made at our factory. An advantage of our semi-hydroponic fabric is that it can be made to suit any shape or contour.
Irrigation was supplied from a tap timer.
The Result/ Outcome
A fully disguised portacabin!
At time of writing, 2023, the portakabin has been blending into the landscape for 6 years.
It’s a beautiful place to work and attracts many pollinators.
Due to the insulation that the Living Wall brings it’s also a cooler place to work in the Summer.
Watch installation video:
The Future Plan
To market the innovative living wall system to cover temporary buildings on schools, hospitals and building sites.
A great opportunity for our clients to demonstrate their green credentials.
