What is a Gabion?

Derived from the Italian word gabbione (big cage) a gabion is a container that is filled with stone, rock, broken concrete and other materials. Egyptians used filled woven baskets to protect the shores of the river Nile. In Medieval times woven baskets filled with stones and earth were used in fortifications and river shoreline protection. Modern welded steel mesh gabions were first created in the mid 20th century. Today gabions are used in a many in civil engineering projects, as well as some military applications (Hesco Bastions) and general road building. Garden designers and garden landscapers also use gabions filled with local stone become a very attractive garden feature in itself..

Todays modern gabions are steel cages which maybe in the shape of a square, cylindrical or rectangle and are manufactured in a large range of sizes. Quality gabions are galvanized to increase product lifespan and gabions manufactured in stainless steel are also available at far greater cost.
Gabions are used as they provide a fast and economical solution to building structures for stabilizing slopes and protecting river shoreline from erosion. Gabion retaining walls are ideal for use in areas of unfavourable soil conditions as they are more flexible than rigid concrete retaining wall structures are less prone to cracks, fractures and failure.

What are the uses of a Gabion

• What is the use of a Gabion
• Mass gravity retaining walls
• Mechanically stabilized soil retaining walls
• Supplementary elements of buildings - Architectural features
• Garden architectural elements (e.g. benches, partition walls, etc.)
• Channel linings
• Culverts and bridge abutments
• Gully control, water velocity reducing structures rivers and shorelines.
  What is the use of a Gabion