Vert was a landmark installation of the 2024 London Design Festival, a 10m tall modular timber pavilion made of 80% renewable materials and designed for re-use.

A pioneering collaboration between AHEC (the American Hardwood Export Council), urban greening specialists OMCC (Office for Micro-Climate Cultivation), and industrial design practice Diez Office, the pavilion was promoting the use of red oak glulam as a sustainable solution for UK construction, whilst proposing urban greening for consideration in the fight against climate change.

Suspended beds were filled with over 20 species of climbing plants that grew across the biodegradable netting, providing cooling shade for the visitors below whilst removing carbon from the atmosphere. The plants were pre-grown at Stage One, OMCC spending two days with us to plant the beds.

During the two months of growing time, Neue Holzbau, having worked with AHEC to develop the red oak glulam, produced the timber components for the pavilion, including thermally modified red oak planks for the decking.

Stage One manufactured the steel base for the decking, and plate fixings for the structure, as well as machining timber bench headers and footrests to suspend the net seating. Installation was completed in a week; we built the structure, delicately positioned the plants, and installed the watering system beneath the decking.

Once demounted, the plant materials will be recycled, and the structure placed in storage for future deployment in other locations.