Greening of a building - transformation into a green shroud
Parliament of German speaking community in Eupen, Belgium
(pressebox) Krauchenwies, 04.02.2015 - How often does the idea come up to green the whole surface of a building (4 walls and roof) and put the house on a green fur? In Eupen, right after the Belgian border, they impressed by putting this in action on the legislative building of the German speaking community. The Parliament has a surface of 653 m² altogether, on this area modern architecture combined with advanced building greening concepts have created an impressive estate inserted between the historic main building and the park.
History
The parliament of the German speaking community in Belgium is situated in their new residence in Eupen since last October. The former sanatorium had to be completely renovated before administration and fraction offices were able to be moved in. The historic structure was built in the first half of the 20th century during the reign of the emperors and had, due to the past political situation, both German and Belgian owners who used the building for different purposes. The German speaking community in Belgium took possession of the building and the surrounding land although representative accommodations were missing. So in fall 2008 an international competition for architects topped off the modification and renovation. The winning atelier was Kempe Thill in Rotterdam supported by Artau scri d'architectures in Malmedy. An outstanding eye-catcher is the greening of the newly built petition hall. As the older and taller main building is situated behind the new petition hall and furthermore is built on a hillside, the roof surface of new created building is visible for everyone. That's why the planners decided to create vegetation on the walls and the roof. Thanks to this idea the plenary hall integrates itself perfectly to the renovated sanatorium and the landscape in general. Architects call it a "landscape project in front of a manor house within both the buildings have their own character but still complement each other". A great view can be enjoyed from the plenary hall as well as from the main building.
Constructional conditions and greening structure
The newly built plenary hall is a concrete building with 16cm thick insulation out of PUR foam. The waterproofing of the roof was sealed root-proof with PVC, thus prepared the roof for the greening. The architects aim was to keep an evenly and consistent appearance of the facade and the roof greening. Furthermore, they tried to let the different greenings fuse into one surface. To achieve this result, the planners had to find a supplier who was bale offer both façade and roof greening systems. The worldwide operating company Optigrün interational AG based in Krauchenwies, Baden-Wuerttemberg, met the architect's expectations. With interaction of architects, technical department of optigreen and their regional manager in Belgium different possibilities were tested and the system solutions "façade greening" and "lightweight roof" were found suitable to complement each other.
Due to the guidelines, the vegetation and maintenance the system solution "lightweight roof" was chosen. This roof greening with a layer height of 5cm only weighs 53kg/m², the exact layer composition includes:
- protection and storage fleece type RMS 300
- optigreen drainage board type FKD 25 (25mm)
- 3cm optigreen low density substrate type L
- pre-cultivated sedum vegetation mats
As an exclusive vegetation as red leafed as possible was wished, a pre-cultivated sedum vegetation mat was fitted. This way the roof surface was unified greened immediately. Even the inspection chamber which was installed to control the root drainage outlets was being greened.
Wall attached façade greening system with substrate
The crossover from wall to roof seems seamless at first sight because the grid at the end of the roof greening has just the same material and color as the elements of the façade. Thanks to the mesh size the sedum plants have enough space to grow through the grid and therefore cover it optically.
The optigreen façade greening is a wall attached greening system without any connection to the ground. It's based on substrate which brings a row of advantages: frost resistance for the plants, higher water retention, humidity float and more space for roots. The stock size of the façade elements add ups to 60 x 100 cm. In addition there can be produced project-oriented customized sizes so project specific conditions can be considered as well. Owing to flexibility in view of surface color and substrate filling of the façade elements a wide range of different designs emerges.
Constructional requirements for the installation of the system solution façade greening is a static suitable wall or façade construction (with and without insulation), which can sustain at least additional 120kg/m². On these structures suspension rails can be installed and arranged with inspectional approved fixing devices. The optigreen suspension rails can, if constructional possible, be fixed directly on the wall. If not, bearing rails have to be used to install the optigreen suspension rails. At one of the objects in Eupen, the optigreen suspension rails were placed on a contrial substructure. The façade elements can also be greened after they've already been installed on the wall, or just like in this object, pre-cultivated. For the wall garden in Eupen the façade units were pre-cultivated, which means that sedum plants were planted in plant containers several months prior to the commencement. In addition sedum sprouts were incorporated into the substrate. Based on this spadework an extensive sedum greening was found in November 2013 when installing the system.
Following sedum sorts were in use to green the plenary hall:
- Sedum album 'Coral carpet'
- Sedum album 'Murale'
- Sedum lydium 'Glaucum'
- Sedum spurium 'Purpurteppich'
- Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut'
- Sedum 'Shorbuser Blut'
- Sedum spurium 'Red Carpet'
Definitely required: watering strategy, cultivation and maintenance
Wall attached façade greenings have to be cultivated regularly. The cultivate arrangements consist apart from water and nutrient supply of renewal pruning and replacement of single plants. The intensity of cultivation depends on the type of plant, the season and the plant growth which consequences upon it. Determining for the perfect cultivation is a permanent and adequate water and nutrient supply, that's why optigreen offers a watering system with integrated nutrition supply. For using this system, dimensioned domestic engineering (power and water feed) has to be available. To keep the fresh water consumption down, a computer controlled circuitry system proofed itself. Humidity sensors measure the substrate's humidity and release the water supply via trip hoses if needed. Concerning the project in Eupen, each façade is actuated individually. Also, every façade element has their own watering hose at a remove of 116cm. To control and monitor the facades each side is equipped with four temperature and humidity sensors.
conclusion
The city ecologist's dream got put in action and became reality in Eupen: A building which is greened all-around and on which the facades and the roof becomes one closed green cover. By greening all facades and the roof at the new building of the parliament of the German speaking community an impressing eye catcher arose. Right after installation of the optigreen system solutions "wall garden" and "light weight roof" last year the building was completely covered in green.
Object: Parliament of the German Speaking Community in Eupen, Belgium.
Year built: 2013
Owner: Ministry of the German Speaking Community in Eupen, Belgium
Architects: Atelier Kempe Thill Architekten, Rotterdam, assisted by Artau Architekten, Malmedy
Statics: Kempen Krause Aachen
Project Management: Drees and Sommer, Luxemburg
Greening: H4A Groen, Zelzate Greened roof area: 437 m²
Greened Wall Garden area: 216 m²
Wall Garden irrigation: Mastop totaaltechniek, Boskoop
Greening systems: Optigreen System Solution "Lightweight Roof", Optigreen System Solution "Wall Garden"
The German Speaking Community in Belgium
The area of the German Speaking Community covers barely 854 km² German is the official language, used in schools and courts. The inhabitants of this area consider themselves people of a European core region with access to four different countries (B, D, NL and L). According to the Treaty of Versailles the area of Eupen-Malmedy was conceded to Belgium in 1919. As a consequence 70.000 Germans became Belgians. The German speaking minority benefits from home-rule in Belgium and since 1984 have their own parliament. This parliament represents the people of the smallest Belgian Federated State and has 25 representatives. The German Speaking Community arranges partnerships with European regions and states, ratifies international agreements, is active in the transnational Maas-Rhein Euro Region and in the Greater Region. They are also represented in the European Parliament.
www.dgparlament.be
History
The parliament of the German speaking community in Belgium is situated in their new residence in Eupen since last October. The former sanatorium had to be completely renovated before administration and fraction offices were able to be moved in. The historic structure was built in the first half of the 20th century during the reign of the emperors and had, due to the past political situation, both German and Belgian owners who used the building for different purposes. The German speaking community in Belgium took possession of the building and the surrounding land although representative accommodations were missing. So in fall 2008 an international competition for architects topped off the modification and renovation. The winning atelier was Kempe Thill in Rotterdam supported by Artau scri d'architectures in Malmedy. An outstanding eye-catcher is the greening of the newly built petition hall. As the older and taller main building is situated behind the new petition hall and furthermore is built on a hillside, the roof surface of new created building is visible for everyone. That's why the planners decided to create vegetation on the walls and the roof. Thanks to this idea the plenary hall integrates itself perfectly to the renovated sanatorium and the landscape in general. Architects call it a "landscape project in front of a manor house within both the buildings have their own character but still complement each other". A great view can be enjoyed from the plenary hall as well as from the main building.
Constructional conditions and greening structure
The newly built plenary hall is a concrete building with 16cm thick insulation out of PUR foam. The waterproofing of the roof was sealed root-proof with PVC, thus prepared the roof for the greening. The architects aim was to keep an evenly and consistent appearance of the facade and the roof greening. Furthermore, they tried to let the different greenings fuse into one surface. To achieve this result, the planners had to find a supplier who was bale offer both façade and roof greening systems. The worldwide operating company Optigrün interational AG based in Krauchenwies, Baden-Wuerttemberg, met the architect's expectations. With interaction of architects, technical department of optigreen and their regional manager in Belgium different possibilities were tested and the system solutions "façade greening" and "lightweight roof" were found suitable to complement each other.
Due to the guidelines, the vegetation and maintenance the system solution "lightweight roof" was chosen. This roof greening with a layer height of 5cm only weighs 53kg/m², the exact layer composition includes:
- protection and storage fleece type RMS 300
- optigreen drainage board type FKD 25 (25mm)
- 3cm optigreen low density substrate type L
- pre-cultivated sedum vegetation mats
As an exclusive vegetation as red leafed as possible was wished, a pre-cultivated sedum vegetation mat was fitted. This way the roof surface was unified greened immediately. Even the inspection chamber which was installed to control the root drainage outlets was being greened.
Wall attached façade greening system with substrate
The crossover from wall to roof seems seamless at first sight because the grid at the end of the roof greening has just the same material and color as the elements of the façade. Thanks to the mesh size the sedum plants have enough space to grow through the grid and therefore cover it optically.
The optigreen façade greening is a wall attached greening system without any connection to the ground. It's based on substrate which brings a row of advantages: frost resistance for the plants, higher water retention, humidity float and more space for roots. The stock size of the façade elements add ups to 60 x 100 cm. In addition there can be produced project-oriented customized sizes so project specific conditions can be considered as well. Owing to flexibility in view of surface color and substrate filling of the façade elements a wide range of different designs emerges.
Constructional requirements for the installation of the system solution façade greening is a static suitable wall or façade construction (with and without insulation), which can sustain at least additional 120kg/m². On these structures suspension rails can be installed and arranged with inspectional approved fixing devices. The optigreen suspension rails can, if constructional possible, be fixed directly on the wall. If not, bearing rails have to be used to install the optigreen suspension rails. At one of the objects in Eupen, the optigreen suspension rails were placed on a contrial substructure. The façade elements can also be greened after they've already been installed on the wall, or just like in this object, pre-cultivated. For the wall garden in Eupen the façade units were pre-cultivated, which means that sedum plants were planted in plant containers several months prior to the commencement. In addition sedum sprouts were incorporated into the substrate. Based on this spadework an extensive sedum greening was found in November 2013 when installing the system.
Following sedum sorts were in use to green the plenary hall:
- Sedum album 'Coral carpet'
- Sedum album 'Murale'
- Sedum lydium 'Glaucum'
- Sedum spurium 'Purpurteppich'
- Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut'
- Sedum 'Shorbuser Blut'
- Sedum spurium 'Red Carpet'
Definitely required: watering strategy, cultivation and maintenance
Wall attached façade greenings have to be cultivated regularly. The cultivate arrangements consist apart from water and nutrient supply of renewal pruning and replacement of single plants. The intensity of cultivation depends on the type of plant, the season and the plant growth which consequences upon it. Determining for the perfect cultivation is a permanent and adequate water and nutrient supply, that's why optigreen offers a watering system with integrated nutrition supply. For using this system, dimensioned domestic engineering (power and water feed) has to be available. To keep the fresh water consumption down, a computer controlled circuitry system proofed itself. Humidity sensors measure the substrate's humidity and release the water supply via trip hoses if needed. Concerning the project in Eupen, each façade is actuated individually. Also, every façade element has their own watering hose at a remove of 116cm. To control and monitor the facades each side is equipped with four temperature and humidity sensors.
conclusion
The city ecologist's dream got put in action and became reality in Eupen: A building which is greened all-around and on which the facades and the roof becomes one closed green cover. By greening all facades and the roof at the new building of the parliament of the German speaking community an impressing eye catcher arose. Right after installation of the optigreen system solutions "wall garden" and "light weight roof" last year the building was completely covered in green.
Object: Parliament of the German Speaking Community in Eupen, Belgium.
Year built: 2013
Owner: Ministry of the German Speaking Community in Eupen, Belgium
Architects: Atelier Kempe Thill Architekten, Rotterdam, assisted by Artau Architekten, Malmedy
Statics: Kempen Krause Aachen
Project Management: Drees and Sommer, Luxemburg
Greening: H4A Groen, Zelzate Greened roof area: 437 m²
Greened Wall Garden area: 216 m²
Wall Garden irrigation: Mastop totaaltechniek, Boskoop
Greening systems: Optigreen System Solution "Lightweight Roof", Optigreen System Solution "Wall Garden"
The German Speaking Community in Belgium
The area of the German Speaking Community covers barely 854 km² German is the official language, used in schools and courts. The inhabitants of this area consider themselves people of a European core region with access to four different countries (B, D, NL and L). According to the Treaty of Versailles the area of Eupen-Malmedy was conceded to Belgium in 1919. As a consequence 70.000 Germans became Belgians. The German speaking minority benefits from home-rule in Belgium and since 1984 have their own parliament. This parliament represents the people of the smallest Belgian Federated State and has 25 representatives. The German Speaking Community arranges partnerships with European regions and states, ratifies international agreements, is active in the transnational Maas-Rhein Euro Region and in the Greater Region. They are also represented in the European Parliament.
www.dgparlament.be
