~ we design & create to suit
space & environment ~

Living Wall Authorized Representative

Traditionally, the build-up of indoor contaminants is avoided through ventilation; the introduction of new ‘fresh’ outside air into the building to dilute the accumulating contaminants. However, ventilation represents a substantial component of the energy consumed by the building.

The Naturaire Indoor Air Biofilter or “living walls” is an interior plantscape that can effectively remove common indoor contaminants and improve the living environment. It represents the hybridization of science and art to deal with real problems of indoor air quality in an aesthetic and sustainable manner.

The Naturaire Biofilter is the result of over 10 years of research at the University of Guelph. At first glance, the living wall appears as a vertical hydroponic green wall containing a wide range of foliage and flowering plants specifically selected for each site. However, the plant wall is actually an integrated part of the handling system for the building, Air is actively forced through the wall of plants and highly specialized biological components actively degrade pollutants such formaldehyde and benzene in the air into their benign constituents of water and carbon dioxide. The clean air is then distributed throughout the space by the mechanical system.
The biofilter improves the indoor environment through a number of ways; first in terms of its impact on the physical characteristics of the space (contaminant levels, temperature and humidity) and second, the aesthetic aspects of the biofilter. There are increasingly strong links between greening the indoor space and the well-being of the occupants. The inclusion of plants in the work environment reduced the stress levels, increased the productivity and reduced absenteeism. The Naturaire Living walls are extremely robust in their design and can be adapted to a wide range of retrofits or new building venues.

These active Living walls are an opportunity to improve the quality of the entire indoor environment not just air quality; potentially reduce the energy consumption of the building and improve the well-being of the occupants through both physical and psychological means.

An artist representation of the air biofilter. Air from the room
is cleaned by drawing it through the wet plant covered surface
and then the cleaned air is returned to the room.