PROJECT STORY
The challenge
The City of Utrecht needs more residential housing and the city wants to exemplify healthy urban living.
Wonderwoods: Vertical living forest in the city
Utrecht is growing and flourishing
The solution
Arcadis contributed to the design of two residential towers, one of which will include a vertical forest on its facade.
The impact
Wonderwoods will provide living space for residents and the vertical forest will clean 5000 kgs of CO2 from the air each year.
400
homes
360–9,640
360 trees and 9,640 shrubs and flowering plants
5,400
kg co2 absorbed per year
The challenge
With urbanization on the rise, Utrecht needs more and more living space. At the same time, the city has a reputation to uphold as a place where healthy urban life is paramount. So the city authorities started their search for an innovative solution for the station area, where Utrecht citizens will soon be able to live, work and relax in a green, sustainable and central location. Arcadis was involved in the design phase of this challenging project and worked with the architects during the planning phase.
The solution
The solution for the attractive location on the Jaarbeurs Boulevard was found in the ambitious and unique Wonderwoods concept. This special construction is comprised of two 70 and 90-meter tall residential buildings, which together provide around 400 homes for sale and rent. A further 27,000 square meters is reserved for other facilities, including Playlab (an interactive sensory experience for the general public), offices, healthy restaurants, gym facilities, yoga studios, small shops and educational establishments. The towers in the Healthy Urban Quarter are connected via a walkway. The highest tower is designed to look like a 'vertical forest', with balconies and facades planted with local tree species, shrubs and shrubs.
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The landscape architects at Arcadis designed the roof garden, incorporating a link to the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, where the rolling hilly landscape is continued. We also developed the building-physics design and the building installation design, and initiated the certification process for sustainability (BREEAM) and health (WELL-building). In addition, we were responsible for the water testing procedure and project management, in cooperating with MVSA Architects and Stefano Boeri Architetti.
Greenery in the city is essential to health. I am proud that we have used indigenous plants from the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park to bring this beautiful project to life.
The impact
The fact that Wonderwoods won two awards at the prestigious MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards in 2019 proves just how special the project is. The project is widely praised for its innovative use of climate-friendly elements to create a comfortable and healthy living environment. The greenery incorporated into Wonderwoods absorbs CO2, captures fine particles and produces oxygen, enhancing the living environment and emphasizing the natural charm of Utrecht. According to scientific research, nature makes us more energetic, happier, healthier, friendlier and more creative. Utrecht is a city that is growing and thriving in so many ways — to the benefit of all of its citizens. We are proud to be able to contribute to this process.
