LAND arkitektur: An approximately 170-meter-long and two-meter-high noise screen of corten steel filled with flowering plants has replaced a regular wooden board along Östermalm’s Idrottsplats (sports ground) on Lidingövägen in Stockholm. The initiative is part of Stockholms city’s action program against noise, which includes noise-protecting one recreation area per year. With the new screen, the noise levels are estimated to decrease from the previous 60 to 55 decibels on the sports ground. The plants themselves have no greater noise-reducing effect however, they help to absorb particles and clean the air and contribute to stormwater management by absorbing some moisture. The flowering plants also benefit pollination and contributes to biodiversity.

The screen is planted with 28,000 plug plants and offers a rich flowering in different colour themes from spring to autumn. The plant selection is a mixture of indigenous species and ornamental plants: Great wood-rush, polypodies, orange hawkweed, bloody geranium, geranium ‘Rozanne’, Albanian pinks, sand pink, sea thrift, silver speedwell and blue fescue. The plants are selected to both withstand drought and a relatively nutrient-poor habitat.

The 30 cm thick screen is made of expanded metal in corten steel with a core of mineral wool and covered with plant substrate on both sides. The screen is irrigated via a drop hose placed in its upper part. In addition to the plantings, the screen also consists of lighting. In the winter, when the plants rest, the rust coloured panel and the lighting take over.

The plant-clad screen was constructed in connection with the rebuilding of the street section. The route is an important and well-used link for bicycle commuting to and from the city. Lidingövägen connects the city center with Lidingö and Norra Djurgårdsstaden, a new neighbourhood in Stockholm with an environmental profile, another reason why the concept of a green screen was suitable. Since the green screen is right next to the pedestrian and cycle path, the plantings are experienced up close and it was with this in mind that the plant design was made so varied and eventful. The rear, which faces a steep slope towards the sports ground itself, has been hydroseeded with grass and forms a green screen.

In addition to creating an increased well-being for passers-by, the green noise screen also helps to absorb both particle pollution, exhaust gases and noise.

Project name: Grön Bullerskärm
Short office name: LAND arkitektur
Role of the office in the project: Landscape architect
Website: www.landarkitetur.se
Client: Stockholms stad
Lighting: Kempe Ljusdesign
Project location: Östermalms Idrottplats, Stockholm, Sweden
Design year: 2015-2016
Year Built: 2016

Photography: Ulf Lundin