The Venlo region is the world’s first to fully embraced the principles of cradle to cradle, not only did they set this goal for themselves - all products and materials, at all levels of operation, must be 100% reusable and environmentally friendly in production, use and re-use - they also actively attract companies and entrepreneurs with these ambitions. It is therefore logical that when the need for new municipal offices arose Venlo commissioned this project to be cradle to cradle.
The design phase between August 2009 and July 2011 needed a unique approach to reach the highest sustainability and cradle to cradle standards. Contractors and suppliers where consulted in earlier phases than common for many of the desired standards could not yet be attained at the start. Suppliers where invited early so they could get their cradle to cradle certification in time, contractors gave their input in an early stage on feasibility and possibility regarding circular construction practices. Construction started in 2012 and finished in 2016.
The tangible result is a healthy working environment, combined with sustainable innovation. All the raw materials and parts used have a ‘passport’, detailing their production and origin. The building is therefore in essence a huge raw-materials databank. When a service or product reaches the end of its useful life, these materials can easily be retrieved for high-grade reuse.
The building’s most striking feature is its ‘green’ northern façade. More than 100 different plants in the façade contribute to biodiversity and help to create a clean and healthy environment. Covering 2,000m², it currently is the largest ‘living’ façade in the world. It absorbs 30% of the sulphur and nitrogen oxides from the air, while also offsetting the emissions of particulate matter generated by 3,000m2 of motorway.
The greenhouse on the top three floors of the tower is another remarkable sight. Located on the southwestern side collect a lot of warmth from the sun, thus providing a natural preheating for the building. Combined with the green façade, the solar chimney on the roof, and heat storage in the soil, the natural climate control is both energy-efficient and pleasant. The eye-catching core of stairs and voids form the central link between floors, being a place of interaction and inviting physical activity the core is also designed to allow for a natural airflow and decreases the need for mechanical ventilation.
The open and uncluttered public hall on the ground floor houses the municipal service desks, while office floors in the tower above focus on a healthy working environment, with a wide variety of individual and adaptable workspaces. Daylight is let in as deep as possible thus minimizing energy consumption.
Everything in the building is designed with circularity in mind. Where daylight is not adequate LED is used. The water cycle is aimed at minimal wastage, rain and water from sinks is purified by a constructed wetland roof for watering the green facade and flushing toilets.
City Hall Venlo is a tangible proof of a sustainable vision. All suppliers are cradle to cradle certified, sometimes along the way. Thanks to material passports all products used are catalogued and at the end of their life in the City Hall suppliers take their products back for high-grade re-use. The construction is future-proof; the interior is built independently of the supporting structure and thus leaves a possible change of function a future option. While at the time of designing, concrete was the only viable option for a structure of this size, it was not available with cradle to cradle certification. The solution was to use 60 – 70% recycled concrete granulate. On a smaller scale, there is room for unforeseen developments in the field of sustainability, all building-related systems can be replaced without major interventions.
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Over a 100 different plant species cover de façade of the City Hall
With 2000m² the green façade is currently the largest in the world
The Greenhouse on the top southwestern corner is en essential part of the climate control
The Cork Trees in the Greenhouse are selected for their sturdiness, slow growth and air purifying qualities
The fixed sun shades on southern side are covered in PV cells
The constructed wetland filters rainwater and water from sinks for use in the green façade and flushing toilets
Inside the public hall offers the most space and the best views
All the public municipal services are provides over open counters set in the spacious public hall
The eye-catching wooden stairs are the first thing visitors see after entering the City Hall
The stairs form the hearth of the building, their openness encourages dropping by colleagues on different floors.
Activity based working means working at a desk that is best suited depending on the moment. Be it quiet and focused or collaboration and conferencing.
The City Hall is located next to the Maas river lifeblood of the region
early concept sketch
Northeastern exterior concept render
Northeastern exterior final render
Southwestern exterior final render
Interior office floor sketch
Interior plaza sketch
Interior public hall render
Interior greenhouse render
Northern facade
Western facade
Southern facade
Eastern facade
floor plan ground floor
Floor plan level 4
section
Sustainable solutions
details of southern aluminium facade and northern green facade
Venlo
The Netherlands
Municipality Venlo
04/206
27700 sq. m
Hans Goverde, Daniela Schelle (interior)
Hans Goverde, Vincent van der Meulen, Bart van der Werf, Edward Timmermans, Jan-Hein Franken, Annemiek Bleumink, Daniela Schelle, Remco Visser, Patrick Keijzer, Anja Mueller, Hiroko Kawakami
Laudy construction and development, Sittard
Advisors office concept: Veldhoen & Company Advisors construction WSM Constructeurs, Heythuysen Advisors engineering: Royal Haskoning, Nijmegen Advisors electrical engineering: Royal Haskoning, Nijmegen Advisors transportinstallaties: Royal Haskoning, Nijmegen Advisors construction physics / fire safety: Royal Haskoning, Nijmegen Advisors construction costs BBN, Houten Advisors C2C: C2C ExpoLab, Venlo
ECO-boards voorzetwand: houten regels met ecoboard Performance Roof Systems Belgium SA Derbipure, 200mm isolatie (FLOORMATE 700, Rc=5) Koninklijke Mosa keramische wandtegel Mosa Matt Collection 97x297mm Koninklijke Mosa keramische wandtegel Mosa Colors, 147x147mm Koninklijke Mosa keramische vloertegel Global Collection, 296x296 mm MC-DUR 111 D” of “Jotun Oxaanolie impregneer-/fixeerlaag SUPERIOR PRODUCTS international, II, inc ENAMO grip, Ral 7016 STACO persrooster, maaswijdte ca 30 x 30 mm, thermisch verzinkt Armstrong Building Products Essentials, oppervlaktestructuur Tierra, 600x600mm Armstrong Building Products Specifieke Ruimtes, oppervlaktestructuur Hygien, 600x600mm Derako International Massief houten grill plafond Interwand Interline S0 Thoma HOLZ HOLZ100 Accoya delen met messing en groef, d=32mm Accoya plint, 15x80mm Forbo Flooring marmoleum Shaw minimal Tile, vertical edge Tile
Ronald Tilleman
Curriculum
Kraaijvanger Architects has designed for the future since its founding in 1927, always looking forward and reinventing itself. Today Kraaijvanger specialises in complex and sustainable projects in a metropolitan context. With over half of the world’s population living in cities, urban density is a pressure cooker for innovation and prosperity, it provides opportunities for efficient resource use. That’s why Kraaijvanger aims to create a healthier world with attractive and enjoyable living environments; where cities are ecosystems, with buildings that live and breathe, buildings that are continually being reborn.
The best example of this vision is the City Hall Venlo that improves the health of both its surroundings and users. A circular design by Hans Goverde, architect at Kraaijvanger since 1995 and partner since 2002. He focuses on complex urban assignments, multi-functional buildings and integrated design.
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