This is what a LivingPANEL looks like.
Fully installed: rails, irrigation and the planted pad. Keep scrolling and we'll build it up step by step.
The System
LivingPANELS – engineered around the plant.
LivingPANELS are built on more than 15 years of research & development. At their core is a new type of mineral-bound vegetation carrier: dimensionally stable, with generous root space and high water retention.
Strength 1 · The substrate
The substrate: the core technology.
No fleece, no pockets, no troughs, no loose substrate, no organic matter that washes out. The LivingPANELS vegetation carrier is mineral-bound and dimensionally stable: the substrate holds its shape and carries the plants. The result of more than 15 years of research, internationally protected, and in this form available only from NatureBase.
- Mineral-boundOne continuous body instead of loose soil or textile layers. Resistant to ageing and pests.
- Dimensionally stableDoesn't sag, slip or rot. The pad stays what it was on day one.
- Around 1 litre of root space per plantAt roughly 50 plants per m². More room per root, less competition, fewer losses.
- Over 45 % water retention per litreStores water in the module and buffers heat and dry spells.
- Winter-hardy & reusableDocumented winter operation. Removable and reusable when dismantled.
1 lroot space per plant
> 45 %water retention per litre of substrate
< 50 kg/m²total weight, fully saturated
8–10 wkspre-grown, green from day one
B-s1,d0reaction to fire to EN 13501-1
®design internationally protected
“A substrate has to serve the plant, not the production line. For us there is no ‘good enough’: every detail of the LivingPANELS is engineered so that the plant on the facade has what it needs to live: space, water, nutrients.”
Our standard · NatureBase GmbH
Delivered fully green – this is what the module looks like on installation day
Strength 2 · Pre-cultivation
Greening happens in the greenhouse, not on the wall.
The perennials establish for eight to ten weeks in the greenhouse before a module leaves the plant. What arrives at the facade is rooted, dense and matched to the site – not a promise for the year after next.
- 8–10 weeks of pre-cultivationEstablishment under controlled conditions; failures are sorted out before delivery.
- Fully green at handoverEffect and appearance from day one – for marketing and funding inspections too.
- Planting plan by siteSpecies mix by exposure, height and climate – winter-hardy perennials, no one-size-fits-all green.
Strength 3 · Plug & play
Hook in instead of planting: the system in cross-section.
From the first rail to running irrigation: scroll through the installation – step by step.
Mount the multifunction rails.
First, the multifunction rails are fixed to the facade. High-strength aluminium or steel, corrosion-protected – the facade behind stays rear-ventilated.
- < 50 kg
- per m² total weight, fully saturated
Lay and test the irrigation.
Next, the irrigation hose is laid into the rail. The drippers sit above each row of modules. An irrigation test checks the entire line for leaks – only once everything is tight does work continue.
- 1.6 l/h
- per dripper
- 20 cm
- dripper spacing
Hook in the planted pads – done.
The pre-grown pads are hooked in. The facade is green from day one. When dismantled, the pads can be removed and reused.
- 800 × 500
- mm module size
- 50
- plants per m²
Mineral-bound, dimensionally stable.
Without plants, the inside is revealed: one continuous, mineral-bound substrate instead of mats or pockets, held by a tray with baffle elements that distribute the water. It stays dimensionally stable, is resistant to ageing and gives the perennials plenty of root space.
- ~1 l
- root space per plant
- ÖNORM
- L1136 compliant
Technical Details
The structure in detail.
A well-engineered system of mineral vegetation carrier, irrigation and load-bearing structure – internationally protected.
Scientifically tested plant selectionmatched to site and exposure
Green on completionthanks to pre-cultivation – greened from the start
Biodiversityhabitat for insects, bee pasture
Winter-hardy & permanently greenthanks to the mineral vegetation carrier
Complete build-upwith measured insulation effect (hot-box test)
Demand-based irrigationsensor-controlled, under 1 m³ of water per m² per year
New type of vegetation carrierwith even water and nutrient supply
Lightweighttotal weight under 50 kg/m²
Easy installation & removalplug & play system
Remote monitoringconsumption tracking & fault detection
® Design internationally protected
Module size800 × 500 mm (0.4 m²)
Modules per m²2.5 units
Plantingapprox. 50 plants/m², ~1 l root space per plant
Vegetation carriermineral-bound, dimensionally stable
Total weight< 50 kg/m² (fully saturated)
Reaction to fireB-s1,d0 to EN 13501-1:2018
StandardsÖNORM L1136 (AT) · FLL guideline (DE)
Irrigationsensor-controlled on demand, frost protection, remote monitoring
Water consumptionunder 1 m³ per m² per year
Structurehigh-strength aluminium/steel, corrosion-protected, stainless steel
Cooling performanceup to 5.6 °C cooler air at the greening – scientifically measured & documented (HEDWIG, Simmering)
Insulation effect (hot box)U-value 0.72 W/(m²·K) planted & rear-ventilated – around 13 % better than the bare wall (measured insulation effect, not an energy performance certificate value)
Maintenance1 maintenance visit per year
OriginMade in Austria, internationally protected
Fire class B-s1,d0 – what it means
B flame-retardant · s1 lowest smoke production · d0 no flaming droplets. This is the class that fire safety concepts typically require for facades of multi-storey buildings up to the high-rise threshold; high-rise buildings require non-combustible facades. The classification must be coordinated with the fire safety planning on a project basis – we supply the classification to EN 13501-1.
For architecture & planning
Module grid 800 × 500 mm, planting pattern and species mix to your design: full-surface, as a band or as an accent, in front of fire walls, above underground car parks, on existing and new buildings. Standard details as DWG, ÖNORM L1136 / FLL as the basis, planting plan and structural verification on a project basis.
Request planning documentsFor operation
Sensor-controlled irrigation with remote monitoring, usually one maintenance visit per year, under 1 m³ of water per m² per year. How operation is organised is described under Operation & monitoring.
Scientifically measured & documented
The cooling and impact figures were measured in the independent research project HEDWIG and are publicly documented. Cooling figures measured at the reference project Wien Energie Simmering (test object FB3-m). Source: Stangl R. et al. (2026): Project HEDWIG. Berichte aus Energie- und Umweltforschung 59a/59b/2026, BMIMI. Bernhard Scharf (NatureBase) contributed to the study as a co-author; figures depend on site and building. Reports · Raw data (Zenodo)
How it works
Four steps to a living facade.
From initial planning to ongoing operation – a complete system from a single source, for new and existing buildings.
01
Planning & plant selection
Site and exposure determine the scientifically tested perennial selection and the system build-up. We clarify funding at the same time: Funding Check.
02
Pre-cultivation (8–10 weeks)
The modules are pre-grown for 8–10 weeks and arrive at the site fully greened. The overall project duration is longer – please plan early.
03
Plug & play installation
Fully greened, the modules are hooked in on site – fast and clean, for existing and new buildings.
04
Operation & monitoring
Technical monitoring as a package from NatureBase: demand-based irrigation, consumption tracking and remote fault detection. Maintenance is carried out by maintenance partners under a separate contract.
Operation & Monitoring
What happens after handover.
A green facade lives on its operation. That's why operation is part of the LivingPANELS system – with figures you know before you decide.
Demand-based irrigation
Sensors record demand; irrigation runs only when the plants need water – with frost protection in winter. Result: under 1 m³ of water per m² per year, despite 3–5 l of evapotranspiration per m² and day in high summer.
Technical monitoring
As a package from NatureBase: consumption tracking and remote fault detection. Deviations become visible early, not only on the plants.
Maintenance under contract
Usually one maintenance visit per year: pruning, inspection, replanting where needed. Maintenance is carried out by maintenance partners under a separate contract – planned rather than ad hoc.
Modules individually replaceable
Every module is removable and reusable. Replacing a module doesn't mean opening up the facade – and when dismantled, the system stays in the loop.
Evapotranspiration and water figures: project HEDWIG (BOKU/IBO), reference project Wien Energie Simmering; operating figures per Technical Information 02/2026. Maintenance effort depends on site and building.
Advantages
What sets LivingPANELS apart.
The key properties at a glance – from the perspective of developers, planners and operators.
Coverage from installationGreen immediately, fully pre-grown
No ground connection neededYes – above underground car parks, on sealed surfaces, on fire walls
Dense development & pavementsYes, even without green space
Coverage over the heightFull-surface & even over the entire height
Planting densityAround 50 plants per m² of facade area
Aesthetics & biodiversityPerennial mix of many species, planting pattern and flowering aspect to your design, habitat for insects
WeightLightweight, under 50 kg/m²
Structural load on existing buildingsUsually without major additional structure
Root space & facade protectionContained in the module, no root pressure
Reaction to fireFire class B-s1,d0
StandardsÖNORM L1136 / FLL as the basis
IrrigationDemand-based control
Maintenance effortLow-maintenance, winter-hardy, green all year
Dismantling & circularityModules removable & reusable
Building-physics effectSurface temperature and insulation effect measured on site (HEDWIG)
Microclimatic effectUp to −5.6 °C cooler air directly at the greening*, measured (HEDWIG)
PlannabilityDefined dimensions & weight, costed early
InstallationPlug & play: hook in instead of planting, no gardener on site
* Up to −5.6 °C cooler air directly at the greening on hot days (daytime); around 2.5 °C on average over the 2025 heatwave. Measured in the HEDWIG research project (BOKU/IBO) at Wien Energie Simmering, building-physics values in the MARGRET project (61/2026, AEE INTEC); the raw data are publicly available. Values are building-specific and depend on system build-up, vegetation, exposure, location and season.
Documents
Information & downloads.
All documents at a glance. For detailed questions, we're happy to help in person.
Request planning documents → Specification text, planting plan and structural verification – on a project basis.
Frequently asked questions
LivingPANELS FAQ.
What are LivingPANELS?
A modular, wall-bound system for vertical facade greening by NatureBase from Austria. The modules are pre-grown for 8–10 weeks, arrive at the site fully greened and are hooked in using the plug & play method.
Are LivingPANELS winter-hardy?
Yes. The mineral vegetation carrier and a winter-hardy perennial selection keep the facade green through the seasons. Professional maintenance and occasional replanting are part of operation.
How heavy is a LivingPANELS facade?
The total weight of the lightweight construction is under 50 kg per square metre.
How much maintenance is required?
Low-maintenance – usually one maintenance visit per year is sufficient. NatureBase offers a technical monitoring package (irrigation, consumption, remote fault detection). Maintenance itself is carried out by maintenance partners under a separate contract.
How long does pre-cultivation take?
8–10 weeks. The overall project duration is longer – so involve us early in the planning.
Are LivingPANELS suitable for new and existing buildings?
Yes. The complete system including system edge closures is suitable for both.
Do green facades cool?
Plants cool through evapotranspiration and shading. At the reference project Wien Energie Simmering, the HEDWIG project (BOKU/IBO, 2024–2025) measured air up to 5.6 °C cooler behind the greening, and around 2.5 °C on average during the 2025 heatwave. Figures depend on site and building.
Do LivingPANELS improve thermal insulation?
Yes. In a hot-box measurement, a U-value of 0.72 W/(m²·K) was determined for the planted, rear-ventilated facade – around 13 % better than the bare wall (0.83). The planting itself adds further insulation. This is a measured insulation effect, not a standardised value for the energy performance certificate; figures depend on build-up and building.
Let's go
Interested in LivingPANELS?
We advise you on the system, plant selection, funding and implementation.