Benholm Group are delighted to have been listed as an approved supplier of living walls and sustainable planting solutions on Mobilane; the market leader for the sustainable development and delivery of patented, innovative green systems.
For over a decade Mobilane have promoted their mission to work together for a better, healthier living environment we are delighted to be on board. To find us simply click this link and search any city in Scotland: https://mobilane.com/en/where-to-buy.
At Benholm, our experts can design and install lush, planted, green walls including living plants or our preserved Nordik Moss. Our living green walls can be planted using our own-brand, peat-free system Enviroculture which does not require soil or compost for the plants to grow and is totally peat-free. It’s a clean system, free from soil-borne pests and bacteria, and has a positive effect on the environment, making it and Benholm Group the obvious choice for sustainable planting solutions.
In this exclusive interview we talk with Tracey Forbes, Design Director of Edinburgh based, interior design consultancy, 442 Design with whom Benholm Group have collaborated with by providing bespoke planting solutions for multiple projects. We find out what it’s like to work with Benholm on a new project, how the industry is changing its view on biophilic design and how 442 Design are choosing to lead the way with planting solutions.
Tell us why you believe it’s so important to include planting in interior design?
Now more than ever, we are seeing a real increase in biophilic design within the office and retail sector. No one can argue against the benefits of nature for improving mental and physical health and it needs to be at the heart of our building systems – not just a nice to have – it’s our job at 442 Design to filter this into our projects.
How have Benholm Group been able to assist you in including planting into your designs?
We have working with Benholm numerous times in the past, most notably on a stunning, lush, vibrant green wall inside Arsenal FC’s offices. We were able to use this project as a showpiece to demonstrate to clients how we can effectively bring the outdoors-indoors, to create real impact with plants; this was the springboard for us to bring Benholm in on new projects.
Tell us about creating the new ‘Botanics shop’ for Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
The new shop is located in the heart of the garden itself, so it was really important to include vibrant planting in our design – artificial plants just wouldn’t cut it! Nature was the real USP of this project and it was important that any planting we included highlighted this. That’s why Benholm’s Nordik Moss was so good – its preserved so would continue to looking fresh and green, but it doesn’t need any irrigation, so it was the perfect solution for the signage and LED screen panels that we created. The moss was the ideal background to blend technology into nature and it really made the signage stand out, whilst staying on-brand.
What do Benholm offer you that our competitors couldn’t?
Planting is so important to help inject energy and vibrancy into an interior, but sometimes clients can be nervous about including living plants in their interiors due to concerns over budget, longevity and freshness, but Benholm were able offer a wide range of choice for both living and artificial planting, plus their expertise, installation and maintenance options are excellent. We choose Benholm to work with time and time again as they are responsive, flexible and have a great range of planting options to suit any budget.
“Benholm are responsive, they really get to the ground of a project, from design right through to installation and maintenance. They are always involved; dropping off samples, offering advice – they really are the experts” – Tracey Forbes, 442 Design
Your team took part in one of our CPD training days – what was this like?
Excellent. It was a fun day and something a little different for our team – they all enjoyed it! Benholm take a real partnership approach; their in-depth knowledge feeds my team and adds another skill to include in our schemes. The training offered us a backstory and helped us to specify the right plants in the right environment, it really opened our eyes to the possibilities of plants. I’d like to do more days like that to see more planting options and to be updated on key trends.
Living walls can truly revitalise any interior space. These ‘vertical gardens’ brings a fresh look to the interior of any property and creates a lush focal point. They also provide health and well-being benefits, providing cleaner air and boosting mood and productivity.
What is a living wall?
A living wall, or vertical garden, is normally installed in front of an existing, solid wall, however raff-standing options are also available. The structure is attached to the existing wall at various points, without causing any damage. The living wall can then be used as a garden which creates a fresh, natural feel to the space. They don’t just look amazing; they also provide several benefits for the surrounding environment. Our expert team can work with you to design, install and maintain a living wall that is suitable to your space.
What are the benefits of a living wall?
Living walls purify the air
There is no doubt that air quality is important in any internal space. Poor air quality can have several adverse effects on people living or working indoors. These effects include:
Eye irritation
Sore throat
Dizziness
Fatigue
Poor air quality can also aggravate medical conditions like asthma. Living walls improve air quality by converting CO2 into oxygen and by converting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into compounds which the plants then feed on.
Living walls gives city dwellers and workers the opportunity to experience some greenery amongst the concrete and metal. Another benefit of a living wall is the limited amount of floor space required. It’s the perfect solution for spaces where floor space is highly valuable.
Artia One Living Wall
Living walls make you feel better
Research shows that plants have a positive effect on the way people feel, they help to create a feeling of vitality, lifting spirits and creating happiness. As living walls are full of lush healthy plants, they have the same effect and can make people feel better.
This is important in a commercial setting. In an office, when people feel good, they are less likely to be absent and take time off sick. They are also likely to be more productive.
Plants are also seen to have a positive effect in the hospitality and spa industry. For instance, those who go to a spa want to leave feeling relaxed, plants can enhance their experience resulting in them leaving calm. Our collaboration with Emma O’Neil – Founder of La Rue Verte, also exemplifies how this can be achieved in the hospitality sector. More information about La Chambre Verte can be found here.
Living walls improve productivity
A good level of productivity is essential to the survival and growth of any business. A great way to improve productivity is to create green spaces, research shows that you can yield the following benefits:
Enhanced employee mood.
Improved learning.
Higher levels of innovation.
More efficient decision making.
Improved problem-solving.
Living walls create positive brand associations.
All businesses want customers to hold a good impression of its brand. An important factor that can help with this is impressive and welcoming office spaces. Living walls can create great first impressions:
The creation of an eye-catching environment.
Freshening the environment and making it a healthier place to visit and work in.
Portraying the brand as environmentally conscious.
These factors are all important in impressing potential clients. They can also help attract professionals who want to work for a forward-thinking business.
Living walls improve Acoustics
Noise is a constant feature in most buildings usually generated by phone chatter, footsteps on hard floors, conversations and IT essentials like printers. Plants bring so many benefits to their environments and the people in them, but noise reduction is one of the less-known advantages.
Plants absorb, diffract and reflect sound. Plants bring so many benefits to their environments and the people in them, but noise reduction properties are less widely known. As plants are multi-layered they help deflect and absorb sound from the room.
Adding a living wall in your office space or premises is an easy way of creating a focal point that also helps to improve the health and well-being of everyone inside. From a commercial perspective, living walls can help to attract clients and potential employees, by creating a good impression of a brand, they also boost creativity and productivity.
Benholm Group are proud to design, create and install living walls across Scotland and the UK. To give you an added peace of mind, we also provide maintenance services and surrounding lighting if needed.
Some of our recent projects include Quartermile One, Artia One and Social Security Scotland – keep an eye on our socials to get a snapshot of our completed projects.
For more information on living walls or any other products or services we offer, call us on 01324 861 300 or email mail@185.216.77.122.
