Tropical biome quadrupedal layer roofing (Vector Foiltec)

Behind that broad grin lies a genuinely exciting piece of engineering. This is the installation of a multi-layer ETFE roof across a tropical biome — a specialist system delivered in partnership with Vector Foiltec, and a real milestone in the life of the project.

​

Why ETFE? Because living tropical collections need light, and lots of it. Glass filters out much of the spectrum that plants depend upon, and it is heavy, fragile and expensive to span. ETFE cushions transmit remarkably high levels of natural daylight, including the wavelengths that keep banana, heliconia and palm collections thriving. They are extraordinarily light, effectively self-cleaning, highly insulating and tough enough to shrug off decades of British weather. Running costs fall, plant health improves, and the space beneath feels bright and alive rather than gloomy and glazed.

Getting there took careful sequencing. Working at height above a live planting scheme demands meticulous method statements, disciplined lifting plans and a site team that communicates constantly. We are pleased to say the atmosphere on site stayed every bit as warm as the biome — morale as high as the roofline, as one of the crew put it.

​

This is exactly the kind of project where an experienced pair of eyes earns its keep: translating between the specialist contractor, the client, the horticulturalists and the animal team so that everyone's requirements survive into the finished build.
 

If you are contemplating a covered biome, a large aviary span or a glasshouse conversion, we would be genuinely glad to help you weigh up the options.