INNOVATION
Self-irrigating planting systems
Vertuo’s solution has been developed with concrete urban cityscapes in mind, and its integration into public realm enhancements for the 2024 Paris Olympics underlines
its suitability for an international destination, with high footfall.
Vertuo makes urban planting much less water-intensive and expensive to maintain
W ithout plants and soil to soak up rainwater, concrete cityscapes are prone to flooding, particularly as heavy rainfall events have become more frequent (according to the UN’s climate body the IPCC). Now, French startup Vertuo has devised two modular solutions, BU Origine and BU Oxygene, that bring greenery back to urban areas, even where there’s no soil. The self-irrigating blocks absorb rainwater, keeping themselves nourished all year round, even during extended heatwaves, without requiring expensive and time- consuming maintenance. BU Origine cubes are buried flush with the ground, with each one containing a planter and water retention basin. When multiple cubes are fitted together, they create a hydraulic network of plants that will continually absorb rainwater. The BU Oxygene works in much the same way, except the blocks also act as urban furniture with customisable wooden seating areas. The plug-and-play system can be installed in a day and, because of its modular design,
The self-irrigating blocks absorb rainwater, keeping themselves nourished all year round, even during heatwaves can also be moved around and adapted as needed. Vertuo has already completed many projects across France. Alongside partnerships with Emulithe, Alkern, and Veolia, it has also been tasked by Solideo – the organisation responsible for the delivery of all infrastructure and venues for the 2024 Paris Olympics – to ‘green’ a 160-metre stretch of road for the Games, which could offer some useful learnings for the West End.
Green urban spaces can be a challenge both to install and maintain, especially as global warming lengthens hot summer periods and plants require additional manual watering. Vertuo solves both these issues, providing easy-to-implement green solutions that can quickly improve the aesthetic appeal of grey spaces while boosting urban biodiversity and an area’s flood resilience. Plus, they can serve as an attractive and unique rest space for pedestrians in busy city streets.
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