World’s largest soil-based vertical garden

Ports of Auckland (POAL) installed the garden on its car-handling building currently being built on Auckland’s waterfront.

Tony Gibson, chief executive of Ports of Auckland, said “This vertical garden is one of several design features of the new building that will improve the look of the port and better integrate it into the central city. As it grows, the vertical garden will help turn what could be a boring, functional building into a local landmark which increases bio-diversity and greens the central city.”

The unique soil-based vertical garden system was invented by New Zealand company Hanging Gardens and the components are manufactured in New Zealand as part of a Department of Corrections prisoner rehabilitation programme.

The garden has been planted with 75% NZ native plants with around 40 species used, all chosen because they require less water and fewer nutrients. Around 3800 plants have been used in the installation, pre-grown in felt pockets by the team at Joy Plants.

It is the only vertical garden product which meets the Living Building Challenge criteria for sustainability. Everything used in the garden can be either re-used or recycled.

To ensure plant health – and minimal water use – sensor-controlled drip irrigation has been installed.

This is the first time the vegetation like this has been allowed inside a New Zealand port, and special bio-security measures were required. These were approved by the country’s Ministry for Primary Industries and include the use of plants that don’t attract insects and other pests, as well as a comprehensive surveillance programme.