GABION ARCHITECTURE
The Midrand site's wall thickness is 300 mm
Weld mesh sets new gabion trend The traditional role of gabion wire mesh baskets as an environmentally engineered solution is evolving with a parallel growth in weld mesh systems for architectural applications. In both instances, their rockfilled composition provides a natural aesthetic appeal and a value-engineered solution, says Louis Cheyne, managing director, Gabion Baskets. By Alastair Currie
D
ouble-twisted hexagonal wire mesh is the standard product used to form gabion baskets and gabion mattresses. Within an environmentally engineered context, this product characteristic is important because it enables a degree of flex. This is crucial in river applications, where gabion retaining walls and weirs will experience var ying hydraulic conditions and potential debris impact. However, this degree of flexibility is less important for lateral soil support
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IMIESA April 2022
applications on land – a classic example being slope stabilisation with mass gravity retaining walls. Here, the key consideration is the permissible degree of permeability factored into the design, given the fact that a typical 1 m x 1 m rock-filled wire mesh gabion has a void percentage of around 35%. Controlled drainage is essential to avoid hydraulic pressure build-up behind soil-retaining structures. This is achieved via the integrated use of either woven or non-woven geotextiles, depending on the soil type.
Weld mesh for engineering tasks “Wire mesh remains the most widespread product employed for environmental engineering. However, within this segment, we are also experiencing growing demand for weld mesh in roles like landscaping and retaining walls where the priority is aesthetics, especially where a more exact, flat finish is required. Ver y precise tolerances can be achieved, generally within a range of 2 mm to 4 mm and, in most cases, geotextiles are still required,” Cheyne explains. “However, the fastest expanding market for weld mesh gabions is in the architectural field for projects that include residential, office and commercial developments,” Cheyne continues. Popular weld mesh gabion roles include pillars, free-standing feature walls, boundar y, terracing and retaining walls, and even fireplaces.
Configurations and custom builds The most common weld mesh configuration supplied locally has a 50 mm x 50 mm
Clinton Cheyne (left), operations manager at Gabion Baskets, together with managing director Louis Cheyne
Individual steel framed rectangular gabion box panels were bolted together to form this architectural wall section
Approximately 35 m3 of granite rock fill was used to fill the gabion box panels, with material handsorted and shaped on-site
