Design-Build-Care
Atrium On Takutai, Britomart, Auckland

• Largest green wall in New Zealand
• Made from 60 custom made panels

These eco-artworks are the focal point of the atrium on Takutai in the Britomart precinct. The living walls line the east and west end walls and integrate seamlessly into the building fabric. The introduction these vertical gardens has improved air quality, acoustics and thermal performance. They provide a place for natural ecology in the commercial environment and give office occupants with a sense of connection with the natural environment.

The green walls feature a custom designed planting palette that has a combination of native and exotic species chosen for their low light and maintenance requirements. A collection of flowering plants provide seasonal variety, and have been specially chosen to ensure falling drifts of petals don’t stain the steel grey tiles below. The overall composition was influenced by the shadows that fall on the wall during the day, with repetition of planting patterns loosely referencing those found in traditional Maori carvings.

As the walls are only 120mm deep, containing an inert medium as opposed to soil they can be easily fixed into the atrium’s existing stud pattern. The walls’ 60 custom made panels had to be carefully installed by Natural Habitats using a building maintenance unit and abseiling equipment. But they are an ideal light weight solution to the question of how to differentiate the complex’s interior aesthetic.