Education · Rain-fed façade

A façade fed by the rain that hits it.

A university living wall fed by harvested rainwater.

A rain-fed living wall at Middlesex University, designed so the building’s own runoff waters the planting and contributes to urban water management as well as biodiversity.

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Client: Middlesex University
Sector: Education
Location: London
Scope: Rain-fed living wall
Focus: Water management, biodiversity

01 — The brief

Two jobs from one wall.

The university wanted planting that did more than look good on the elevation. Captured rainfall is held and used by the wall instead of going straight to the drain, which reduces peak load on the surface water system.

The species mix was chosen for a rain-fed regime: plants that cope with wet spells and dry spells rather than a constant drip feed, and that support pollinators through the academic year.

What we delivered

—Rain-fed wall build-up designed for captured runoff
—Planting selected for variable water availability
—Biodiversity-led species mix
—Supplementary irrigation for prolonged dry periods

02 — Challenge, solution, result

How it was resolved.

Challenge

The constraint

Green the elevation and reduce surface water runoff at the same time, on a campus budget, without committing to heavy year-round mains irrigation.

Solution

The approach

A rain-fed build-up that captures and holds roof and façade runoff, planted with species tolerant of the wet-dry cycle that comes with it, with a backup line for droughts.

Result