Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
Van der Tol wants to use its green solutions to make the city greener, healthier and more livable. For example, by promoting biodiversity, effective (re)use of (rain) water, combating the warming of the city and improving the indoor climate. Following the example of Kavel O, The George and Vertical in Amsterdam, the roof garden on the Danzigerkade is a good example of how green and technology can go hand in hand for a sustainable urban space.
“At the head of the former Amsterdam Houthavens, on the Danzigerkade, we created an impressive 7,250 m² roof garden that enriches the city both aesthetically and functionally,” explains Casper Korteweg, Project Manager Consultancy at Van der Tol. “The roof garden starts at the headquarters of PVH, owner of Tommy Hilfiger, and also passes the premises of Heren 2, which not only developed this project but also provided construction supervision. The roof garden is installed on the parking garage, i.e. at ground level, and is centrally located in an area of some 15,000 m² of public space. Eight office buildings, two hotels and several fashion companies will find their new place around this green paradise.”
“What's special is that the companies all have their own rooftop garden areas,” Korteweg said. “Around this is a public area, for which several companies submitted adoption requests. The City of Amsterdam went along with this, allowing the roof garden to be designed as one aesthetic whole. Although the transition from public to semi-public area is in the cadastral boundaries, it is not visible when you walk through the roof garden.”
The design comes from Buro Sant and Co Landscape Architecture and brings an organic, water-inspired style to the rooftop, where circular planting beds, various seating areas and unusual paving shape the landscape. “With 50,000 flower bulbs and a variety of plantings, this space forms a harmonious whole that is very valuable ecologically,” said Korteweg, who also reflects on the beautiful aesthetics. “The roof garden has a very high level of finishing. For example, a ‘carpet’ of large-format tiles in herringbone bond and in four colors continues as one from the pedestrian area to the public roadway. As a result, the roadway merges almost invisibly into the whole, with the herringbone bond providing more strength and excellent driveability.” A challenge here was getting the pattern right around the buildings.
Scattered throughout the area are several circular planting areas, in which the substrate is spherically ascending. About 2,160 m2 of perennial green plants and more than 50 multi-stemmed shrubs and trees were planted in these areas.
One of the project's biggest challenges was stormwater management, Korteweg says. “Because the roof had no slope, a technical solution had to be found to drain rainwater efficiently. Together with our partners, we developed an innovative and robust drainage solution, which can also be driven by heavier transport such as trucks. Thanks to the ZinCo Stabilodrain and a carefully elaborated drainage package, we were able to drain the excess water effectively. This protects the planting while ensuring the durability of the roof garden. This makes the roof garden resistant to heavy rainfall and benefits the growing conditions for the plants.”
