When reggae icon Bob Marley penned the lyrics to his 1973 hit “Concrete Jungle,” he could not have been aware of the term “building-integrated agriculture” (BIA) — or “agri-tecture,” as it is sometimes called — because it wasn’t coined until 2007. If he had, perhaps the late Tuff Gong would have looked more favorably on the harsh landscape from which he sought relief.
Referring to the practice of locating high-performance, hydroponic greenhouse farming systems on and in mixed-use buildings, BIA may not be new, but U.K.-based designer William Lee has created an exterior tile cladding system that more easily creates living walls that blur the line between nature and the built environment.
The beauty and innovation behind Lee’s Eco-Systems is that the wall system uses hooks, allowing for easy maintenance, while the tile designs foster plant growth within a controlled pattern. This industrial cladding can be used for new or existing buildings and combines the look of contemporary architecture and green walls seamlessly.
We think Marley would have approved.