Gabion wall construction is gaining popularity across Africa as a cost-effective and sustainable way of building retaining walls in both rural and urban settings.
If you’re searching for gabion wall drawings to guide your next project, or if you want to better understand how to build a gabion wall, this post is your starting point.
In this article, we break down real-world gabion wall designs and technical tips.
What are Gabion Wall Drawings
used for?
Gabion wall drawings are technical illustrations or design diagrams that show how gabion baskets and mattresses are arranged to form a retaining wall.
These drawings help engineers and contractors plan for:
- Wall height, width, and batter angle
- Gabion basket layout (stepped or vertical)
- Drainage systems
- Reinforcement needs
- Ground preparation
These detailed sketches are used to ensure that your wall is both structurally sound and visually appealing.
Examples of Retaining Wall Drawings
& Real-Life Results
Above is a drawing from an actual gabion retaining wall project (Fig. 13). It shows
an 8m high wall, intended to retain a landslip caused by lack of surface drainage.
Pictured above is an example of a gabion structure built to consolidate a slope
that is liable to slip.
The above example shows a gabion toe wall alongside a main railway line and the corresponding gabion wall drawing.
Combined protection and abutments with gabions for light bridges.
Design Considerations from Our Technical Drawings
As illustrated in Fig. 5 of our documentation, gabion wall design follows the same principles as conventional gravity retaining walls:
- For permanent structures, the resultant thrust should remain within the middle third of the base
- Temporary structures may allow some tension on the inside face, with the resultant thrust passing slightly outside the middle third
The cross-sectional diagrams show how pressure distribution affects wall stability, highlighting why proper dimensioning is critical to structural performance.
Stepped Wall Configurations
Right: 5m high wall, stepped on the outside, showing use of 0.5m gabions,
placed on their side.
Our drawings in Fig. 7 demonstrate two effective approaches to stepped gabion wall construction:
- Inside Face Stepping: Creates a vertical outer face while stepping the inner side
- Outside Face Stepping: Maintains 1m gabion placement on the inner side while creating a stepped outer face
Both configurations offer specific advantages depending on site conditions and aesthetic requirements.
Conclusion: Bringing Technical Drawings
to Life
Proper gabion wall construction relies on understanding and implementing the technical specifications outlined in detailed drawings. As Africa’s premier gabion manufacturer, we provide high quality materials and the technical expertise needed to ensure your projects succeed.
Whether you’re planning a roadside retaining wall, an erosion control system, or a decorative landscape feature, our team is ready to assist.
Contact our team today to discuss how gabion constructions can provide the perfect foundation for your next construction project.
See information on the Construction of Gabion Walls here.
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