Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
Van der Tol wants to use green solutions to make the city greener, healthier and more livable. For example, by promoting biodiversity, effective (re)use of (rain) water, combating urban warming and improving the indoor climate, all within the framework of its EcoCity vision. Kavel O in Amsterdam Sloterdijk is a perfect calling card for this and shows how architecture and greenery reinforce each other in urban space.
Kavel O is a project of development combination ERA Contour and BPD. De Zwarte Hond made the design for the residential tower, while Bouwbedrijf M.J. de Nijs en Zonen B.V. is responsible for construction. On behalf of this contractor, Van der Tol realized the green planters on the facades, green roof gardens and the watering and irrigation system.
“We were approached by BPD | Bouwfonds Gebiedsontwikkeling as early as the development phase. They were very charmed by the roof forest on top of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, which we realized in 2018,” says Gert-Jan Middelie, Project Manager at Van der Tol. “Could we also think along about the green solutions for Plot O? In a construction team with the developer and architect, we helped think about the greenery on and adjacent to the building, creating a stepping stone for biodiversity. But also on a smart solution for sprinkling and irrigation. The ambition was not to drain water from the building into the municipal sewer system. But also to store and retain as much water as possible for watering the plants. Therefore, at an early stage it was calculated how much storage capacity was needed - according to the City of Amsterdam's Climate Adaptation Strategy - to be able to absorb a 60 mm rainfall and to bridge six weeks of drought in the summer.”
“All the rainwater that falls on the project comes together in the basement,” Middelie says. “Here a large water reservoir of 270 cubic meters (270,000 liters) has been realized. Of this, about half is retained to cover the aforementioned six weeks of drought. If there is no watering need, the excess water is pumped away to an infiltration field below the first floor, where it can sink into the subsoil and be added back to the groundwater.”
“Three roof gardens have been installed on the building, each with its own planting plan,” Middelie says. “We also realized four hundred meters of green planters. The aluminum planters are about 2.5 to 3 meters long and fully 3D plotted. At our location in Amsterdam, the containers were prefabricated with a drainage system, filter fleece, substrate and lifting facilities. In addition, the containers were pre-planted with perennials, hanging plants and small shrubs, after which they were collected by the contractor and placed directly in the right places on the facades.” For the planting, those planting schemes were used, with more sun-loving plants, shade-loving plants and a semi-shade mixture depending on their position on the facade.
To ensure that residents can enjoy the greenery for as long as possible, the planters on each floor are equipped with sensors. The same goes for the roof gardens. “This allows us to see remotely whether more or less water is needed,” Middelie said. “In the basement is a large cabinet with techniques, from which no less than thirty sensor cables and thirty pipes pass through the building like a spider's web. That makes Lot O a very special project.” Following the advice and execution, Van der Tol is also in charge of the green maintenance.
