GREEN FACADE AERES HOGESCHOOL ALMERE
Cloud Garden's story about Aeres Hogeschool Almere
The new building of Aeres University breathes green and fresh air! The greenery is the central element from ground level to the roof. It connects the five floors of the building and fits in with the green design of the Floriade site.
The eye-catcher of the new building in Almere is the green facade. This was built with the Cloud Garden EFIX system supplied by Cloud Garden and installed and maintained by the Royal Ginkel Group / Koninklike Ginkel Groep (NL). A special team takes care of the maintenance of the facade twice a year.
The WallFlore green facade system from Cloud Garden
Since the building is focused on circularity, the WallFlore system complements this vision. Due to the modularity of the system, the various elements of the panels can be refurbished, reused or recycled, resulting in a fully circular product. The metal basket is made of wire steel, which generates an infinite cycle of recycling. The rock wool substrate is used as a breeding ground and water storage for the plants to grow in. The foil serves as a fire-resistant layer, so that the complete system, including plants and rock wool, has a fire safety classification of b-s1, d0. Since the system is easily adaptable to any project, additions such as insect hotels and birdhouses could be integrated into the system.
To ensure a constant water supply, drip lines have been installed between the plant panels and are connected to a fully automated irrigation system.
Water storage facilities have been installed both underground and on the roof. All rainwater is collected and distributed via the various drip lines to the plant panels via a smart, data-driven and web-based system. This intelligent water storage system is challenging and requires innovative water management to release the water precisely. No tap water is required to irrigate the green facade.
In addition, the water storage facility had to meet the municipality's requirements to store water per m2 in order to relieve the municipality's water drainage system. The water is only drained to open water when the building's storage areas are filled. There is no sewerage for rainwater. By meeting the municipality's requirements, Aeres University of Applied Sciences' vision of creating a sustainable and climate-adaptive green building could be realized.
FACTS AND
FIGURES
The vegetation plan of the green facade
Drawing up the vegetation plan was a challenge with the aim of meeting the Floriade quality. The municipality and the Floriade team have approved the artist's impressions created by BDG Architects. The municipality expressed the wish to use as many plants as possible that start with the letter 'L'. This is how a tree and plant library was created together with the Floriade Arboretum. Aeres University of Applied Sciences aimed to support local biodiversity of insects and birds. That is why insect hotels and birdhouses were integrated into the facade. This resulted in a distinctive vegetation plan that forms an undisputedly unique school building. Plants were grown in a nursery for 8 weeks in the spring. This allowed completely green plant panels to be hung on the facade.
A true experience on the Floriade site
The entire building is a true experience for people and animals, a space where the senses are stimulated and wild animals like to stay. The green facade supports local biodiversity, improves rainwater absorption, reduces the heat island effect in the city center, and cools and insulates the actual building. By preferably using native plants, the natural vegetation is strengthened. This is reinforced by the integrated 'bee ladder' in the facade; a strategic planting plan developed by students from Aeres University of Applied Sciences and tested by an ecologist to guide bees up through the plantings and give them a larger habitat to settle.
The integration of greenery into the built environment is one of the most effective adaptation and mitigation strategies in the fight against climate change. Therefore, it is inevitable that the correct nickname of the building is called “Green Lung”. The building breathes oxygen inside and outside and provides fresh and clean air.
If you want to know more about the companies, check out their websites!
Cloud Garden
Baekelandstraat 3
8013 ND, Zwolle
+31(0)38 77 300 75
www.cloudgarden.nl/en
Royal Ginkel Group
Nieuweweg-Noord 255
3905 LW Veenendaal
+31(0)318 519 039
www.ginkelgroep.nl
CONTACT
Would you like to know more about Cloud Garden's green facade solution? Niels would be delighted to tell you more.