Waste Materials Services Den Bosch: considering nature

The site of Waste Materials Services Den Bosch has immense dimensions and includes offices, waste transfer, household chemical waste, a biomass plant and workplaces. B&G Entrance Control designed the special trapezoidal entrance gate, installed sliding gates and barriers at the entrances and fixed the welded mesh fencing for growth of vegetation. Van Helvoirt Groenprojecten was responsible for planting 2,400 m² of vegetation against the walls. As well birds, insects as the Waste Materials Services staff, literally and figuratively reap the fruits of these plants.

Together with the contractor, B&G initially laid out the architectural design and thought along during the construction process. "When constructing the façades the contractor added studs right away. Because of this, placing the welded mesh panels for the vegetation was an easy and quick job to do," says Hennie Zonneveld of B&G Entrance Control. "In this way, there was no need to drill any holes afterwards which saved us considerable time and cost." The trapezoidal sliding gate, where trucks enter the premises, is an architectural masterpiece and, according to Zonneveld, fully customized. "The gate is twelve meters wide and two and a half meters high and slides completely into the wall. We first installed the construction, after which the Cortens steel coating was added. In order to be able to deal with the weight, the steel elements were, almost simultaneously, applied to the inside and outside of the gate construction. "Together with the other sliding gates and barriers, this gate provides the complete access control of all entrances and exits of the site of Waste Materials Services Den Bosch.

After the welded mesh fencing had been placed Van Helvoirt Groenprojecten started their part of the job: engineering the entire façade by planting vegetation. According to Ruud Kempen of Van Helvoirt Groenprojecten, the aim was to create a natural appearance so that the building would match its environment; the river Meuse and its green forelands. "We chose for a biologically diverse range of plants with a robust appearance, instead of smoothly styled green façades. Biologically diverse means that the plants are interesting for insects (including bees) and birds. Due to its natural character birds can, for instance, build nests in the vegetation. Even the Waste Materials Services' staff literally and figuratively picks fruits of the plants during their break. At ground level, we have chosen for blackberry and raspberry vines." Van Helvoirt has used at least 30 different types of plants for the 2,400 m² green façade, partly evergreen and partly deciduous. "The front will close up from three different levels," Kempen continues, "traditionally, from the ground level up; halfway, plant containers have been fixed in the façade from which the ivy can climb up via the welded mesh panels; and from the roof top, plants can grow down. The irrigation is computer-controlled, differs per façade (north/east/south/west) and depends on the amount of sunshine."

The Waste Materials Services will retain its natural appearance in the future, since Van Helvoirt Groenprojecten will take care of the complete maintenance of the vegetation for at least the next five years: pruning, fertilizing and possibly replanting and controlling the irrigation system.  This system will be at the end of the water cycle: the rainwater will be collected from the roof, stored centrally, filtered and partly used for the irrigation of the green façades.