Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
An iconic project was completed last summer in Rotterdam’s Lloydkwartier. SAWA is Europe’s first circular, all-wood high-rise project and offers a robust solution to multiple challenges at once—from housing shortages to resource scarcity, climate change, and biodiversity. Thanks to terraces with built-in planters and green facades, plants, birds, and insects have plenty of space to thrive. The stainless steel cables and stainless steel cable mesh networks from Kabel Design play a key role in this and also help ensure residents’ sense of safety.
With SAWA, developers Nice Developers and ERA Contour are demonstrating that circular construction using wood is also possible in high-rise buildings. The 50-meter-tall residential tower is built entirely using a modular wood construction system, employing exclusively dry, separable solutions. The building’s design features a terraced structure reminiscent of the rice paddies (sawas) found in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and China, which are built on slopes. The terraces created by this design are fitted with large planters containing plants and shrubs. Various planters have also been installed on the side of the building, where 36 sections of stainless steel cable mesh (approx. 150 m²)—each approximately 1 meter wide and 3.5 to 5 meters high—ensure neat and secure plant containment. In addition, the Breda-based cable specialist installed 26 stainless steel cable mesh panels (approx. 74 m²) near the mailboxes at the front of the building, which ensure residents’ privacy and safety. Nine sparrow towers have been installed on the deck between the vegetable garden beds, for which Kabel Design supplied the stainless steel green guidance cables.
Kabel Design was brought in by ERA Contour at an early stage to ensure the stainless steel cables and stainless steel cable mesh networks were properly integrated. “Steel facades were used on the front and sides of SAWA, which were closed off with our stainless steel cable mesh networks,” says Peter Huijbregts, director of Kabel Design. “Together with steel fabricator Verweij and ERA Contour, we handled the detailed engineering for this project.” To ensure successful execution and high-quality delivery, it is very important that all stakeholders involved speak the same language, he emphasizes. “But it’s also crucial that everyone is on the same page. We therefore devoted a great deal of attention to this—for example, to prevent connection errors caused by misinterpretations.” Verweij had welded special flanges onto the steel frames, through which we had to route our cables. At the steel fabrication plant, we checked the positions and design of these flanges. In addition, we verified the routing of our cables in the corners to minimize the need for on-site adjustments.”
Still, some adjustments were unavoidable. “Normally, we take on-site measurements of our stainless steel cables and stainless steel cable mesh systems before proceeding with production,” explains Huijbregts. “However, due to SAWA’s short turnaround time, there wasn’t enough opportunity to do so. All stainless steel cables and stainless steel cable mesh systems were therefore ordered based on drawings. Since a few minor dimensional discrepancies in the steelwork became apparent during installation, we had to make a few adjustments on site. Thanks to the flexibility and experience of our skilled workers, however, this was resolved quickly and effectively.” Following the installation, flexibility was also required in the scheduling. “SAWA is Europe’s first all-wood high-rise project, which means there have been numerous lessons learned,” says Huijbregts. “This sometimes affected the schedule, requiring us, as a subcontractor, to adapt flexibly to this beautiful and iconic project—with a rewarding result.”
For twenty years, Kabel Design has been the go-to source for the design and manufacture of stainless steel cables, stainless steel cable mesh, and stainless steel woven fabrics. These products are used for, among other things:
• Architecture: Stainless steel cables and cable mesh systems are highly versatile and can be used for applications such as balustrades, railings, and facade cladding.
• Green trellising: creating beautiful green facades using tension cables and cable mesh networks.
• Safety: A barrier consisting of a wire mesh netting and tension cables enhances safety for people, animals, and products.
