News & Projects

Cityroofs’ Aquadyne innovative living wall system has been selected by the Construction Products Association as one of only 6 energy and carbon saving products for its 2009 Innovation and Achievement (CPIA) initiative. CPIA is the leading showcase for some of the most innovative products developed over the last year or so.

Cityroofs’ Aquadyne is a lightweight permeable slab manufactured entirely from recycled plastic material using low-energy technology. It has high permeability and flow rates and no negative environmental impacts through leaching. For living walls, the boards are used within a lightweight stainless steel structure designed and manufactured by Cityroofs’ sister company, Halfen. The resulting screen offers significant benefits to the building, including protection from solar gain to reduce reliance on air conditioning and energy use.

Cityroofs’ Aquadyne acts as both a water attenuation board and a capillary growing medium, with no need for soil. It allows a wide variety of plants to be sprayed onto the material and grown successfully, taking water and nutrients from a hydroponic system without using excessive water. The system can be operated using harvested rainwater and powered by photovoltaics to reduce environmental impact further.

One example of the system forms a backdrop to the BRE Innovation Park as a part of a competition-winning sustainable landscape project. Supplied and installed by Cityroofs, the 12-metre high living wall will provide a clear demonstration of the capabilities of the system to grow a diversity of plants over time and its potential for use in urban environments.