Green guidance makes buildings future-ready

More than beautiful: the role of green guidance

Kabel Design sees potential in bare walls: a vertical biotope, a buffer against heat, a piece of the city that breathes. With clever cable constructions, the company helps plants grow in height - and buildings gain a second skin. "Green guidance is much more than an aesthetic trick," says owner Peter Huijbregts. "It's engineering, precision and vision at the same time."

What began with a fascination with stainless steel cables grew into a specialty in facade solutions. Huijbregts once took over a cable company, dove into the business and found his niche in green conduit. "It's a special playing field. Most people have no idea what's involved in a plant that has to sustain itself over five floors."

Cable Design works with thoughtful constructions of cables, spacers, mesh netting or woven stainless steel. These are suitable for ground greenery that climbs up the facade. Preferably on a robust, stone surface. "We do everything that is technically possible, but also always think about what makes sense. So we often steer toward amenity height - up to three or four feet. That's where maintenance is easy to do and it really makes a difference in the street."

Vegetation leadership grows

The benefits of façade greenery are well known: cooling, nitrogen fixation, biodiversity and insulation. But behind those benefits is a world of technical choices. "The wind load, the weight of the plants, the anchoring: it all has to be right. Especially with horizontal applications, this is really specialist work. We have all our systems calculated. That way we keep it safe and sustainable."

Kabel Design works extensively with architects, construction companies and municipalities. The approach is always customized. "There are plenty of parties who put up something and let the greenery take its course. We want to do it right, with an eye for the long term. Because a facade lives, but only if the basis is right." In recent years, Huijbregts sees the interest in green management literally growing. "More and more parties are discovering its value. And if it is up to me, soon all streets will color green - with the help of Kabel Design, of course."