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Exterior Living Wall

Deansgate Metrolink

2015    Manchester, United Kingdom

An oasis right in the heart of Manchester.

Manchester has been delivering a £1.5 billion investment programme that will see its Metrolink network triple in size. With more stops, more trams and better facilities, it will provide customers with more choices and contribute to better public transport for communities across Greater Manchester. The works will see key stops in the City Centre transformed and a new Second City Crossing (2CC) built to enable more tram services to run through the heart of the city. Viritopia was brought into transform the station into a peaceful green environment.

Featured Solutions:

  • Exterior Living Wall
  • Green Roof

Size:     300m² +

Industry:     Infrastructure, Stations and Public Spaces

Project Drivers

Biophilia

Social Impact

Air Quality

Biodiversity

Deansgate Living Wall

A transformation

The Deansgate - Castlefield stop has been completely transformed so passengers can enjoy a calm and peaceful green environment while they wait for the tram. 

Deansgate Metrolink Station

Creating an oasis

The stop now offers a pleasing, modern gateway to the south of the city. With trees, a living wall and sedum panels teeming with wildflowers between the tram tracks, it’s an oasis right in the heart of Manchester.

Overcoming unique challenges

Viritopia worked on the project from the initial stages when the living wall was just a concept. There were many unique challenges encountered, not least being that the living wall actually runs behind the glass balustrade of the staircase.

Deansgate Metrolink Station

A Living Carpet amongst the trams

As well as the stunning 188m² living wall, there is a large area covered in green wildflower roof to create the living carpet between the tram tracks at the Deansgate stop.  

Deansgate GrufeKit

The Deansgate - Castlefield stop really has taken shape over the last few months and the living wall particularly makes a striking impression. The stop really does have a unique green look and I’m sure the thousands of people using it every day will appreciate the many small touches that make it an oasis in the city.

The installation process

Very careful attention was paid to plant selection in order to create a wall that would thrive and flourish in the contrasting light levels. The installation process was a bespoke programme designed in order to co-ordinate with the other elements of the project and keep to very tight deadlines.

Deansgate Metrolink Station

Fulfilling the purpose

Our maintenance team found a birds nest in the wall, proving our design a success with the aim to improve biodiversity and provide an alternative ecological habitat!

birds nest at Deansgate

We can work with the purpose of project to curate a plant palette that fits the brief, for example, we are able to work with pollinator planting, bulbs and more biodiverse species to create a living wall that supports biodiversity, or we can focus on bringing together plant species that have the best air purification properties.