Zavelberg

Address Dendermondsestraat, Brussels


Surface 1.500 m²


Site 150.000 m²


Project description

Procure sustainability consulting for the development of an urban farm in Brussels.
SuReal acts as a sustainability expert in the guidance and support of the architects in enhancing the ecological value and tackling the impacts of the project, With regards to water and energy consumptions, circularity, eco materials and biodiversity.

Budget Confidential


Final client Brussels Environment


Designers Office U, Atelier Horizon


A local urban farm in Brussels

Bruxelles Environnement is the regional body responsible for environment and energy. With regards climate change, Brussels’ development and the necessity to reconnect rural and urban, Bruxelles Environment has decided to implement a local urban farm within the Zavelberg park, located within Brussels.

 

Brussels Environment called on the services of the architect office Office U and the sustainability expert office SuReal in order to build a future oriented design of the building. SuReal has guided and supported the architects in enhancing the ecological value and tackling the impacts of the project, With regards to water and energy consumptions, circularity, eco materials and biodiversity.

Regarding water efficiency, SuReal has calculated the demand and the potential rainwater offer to dimension the water tower. During this exercise, SuReal also improved the water concept and proposed features to lower the water demand.

 

Sureal also improved the energy efficiency of the project, by analysing passive cooling options and proposing the most suitable HVAC solution for the project. SuReal also studied and proposed the possibility of PV Panels, based on different implementation options alongside several design optimizations to make more efficient. SuReal has also analysed the pro’s and con’s for the project to be self-sufficient or to remain connected to the city grid.

Another major aspect to which SuReal contributed is the choice of materials for the project. The main focuses on this topic were the high circularity of materials, their low ecological impact, to respond to issues in an ingenious way by a combination of virtuous systems and to enhance its architectural coherence. SuReal has worked on the foundations, the floor compositions, the walls and partitions, in particular the earth-straw walls system, the roof and external modular wooden walls.

 

Finally, SuReal also integrated a regard on biodiversity to the project’s design. Opportunities were analysed to implement natural features to enhance the fauna and flora of the site. Ideas like creating an osmose with specific local fauna acting as ecological allies for the orchards were particularly fruitful. Disposition were also taken to limit the project’s impact on its environment, notably by minimizing light pollution.

 

These tailormade studies, supported by clear and practical solutions cover many themes to enhance a holistic and powerful approach on sustainability With this design proposition, Bruxelles Environnement now has a consistent project for Zavelberg’s urban farm, both sustainable and coherent with the idea of bridging between the rural and urban worlds.

SuReal role

Sustainability consulting on the following domains:

Water consumption

Energy consumption

Circularity

Eco-materials

Biodiversity