How we put Nature into practice
Words by
Annemieke Langendoen, Ruud Kempen & Simon van Oldenbeek
Images by
Laurens Kuipers
Nature continuously inspires our identity. We don’t see Nature as an afterthought but as our starting point in all that we do.
Nature is one of our leading brand pillars. This is not just because we firmly believe that working in an environment surrounded by Nature leads to a better quality of life, but because in our industry, it’s very much needed to add value to biodiversity instead of just taking up space. To go beyond just the logistical needs.
We operate as a network of specialists and within Nature, we collaborate with various specialists like ecologists, landscape architects, gardeners, and researchers. For example Hollandsgroen and Van der Tol, are true mediators between people, Architecture, and Nature.
“We want to look at Nature not as an afterthought, but as the basis of our architectural and urban design.”
Five guiding principles when we talk Biodiversity
When we started designing Vega Amsterdam we looked at Nature not as an afterthought, but as the basis of architectural and urban design. And when it comes to Biodiversity, we follow Hollandsgroen’s five guiding principles:
Distribution - we always study the historical context of our destinations. So the flora we select always fits in and relates to the adjacent area, allowing the fauna to live and breed.
Food - we design for the right balance in providing as much food as possible to insects and birds all year round.
Reproduction - we stimulate the reproduction of species of animals through various nesting boxes, sand piles, and dead hedges.
Moisture - we always consider various, small patches of water, providing sufficient moisture in and around the destinations.
Safety - to provide shelter and safety, we make sure to have various mixed hedges, façade greening, dead hedges, and shrubs around the destinations.
Managing Nature
Nature requires management and maintenance. An annual recording of what can be found in Nature, starting with recording a baseline is mandatory, but we take it much further.
For example, Vega Amsterdam will have systems in place such as a sprinkler system that relieves end users of this maintenance. This system will be used to supply the climbing plants and the roof with water management. Next to that, Horticulturalist Van Der Tol is contracted to ensure the maintenance of everything that grows and blooms in pro-active ways. Van Der Tol will involve and educate end users on what to expect through informational signs, internal communication tools, social media, and possibly personal meet-ups. Making sure everyone is aligned and able to enjoy Nature in optimal ways.
Calculating our efforts through Gaia®
Each Stellar Development destination is developed Nature inclusively. To measure and calculate our efforts, we collaborate with Rebel Group, which we assign to objectively assess the environmental, social, and financial effects of our builds. Experience gleaned from previous developments tells us that investing in Nature adds significant value for the environment, end users, investors, and developers.