Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 3/09/15

Europa Congress Palace Convention Center Greenwall –
Palacio de Congresos
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
16,060 sf. Greenwall

Project Description & Details

Designated the 2012 European Green Capital because of its biodiversity and integration of greenspace into its urban fabric, Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the Basque Autonomous Community and of the province of Álava in northern Spain. Located in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Europa Congress and Exhibition Hall is a multi-purpose venue for fairs and conferences. In an effort to bring Álava’s ecosystems to the center of the city, in 2013 a large greenwall was designed and installed on three sides of the building by Urbanarbolismo and SingularGreen in association with Urbaser and Zikotz.

Another primary motive for the beautiful and distinctive Palacio de Congresos living wall was to capture energy savings. The “F+P preplant” system adds a thermal resistance of 2,644 m2.K/W, representing a 270% increase over the existing facade insulation. Encompassing a total vegetative surface of 1,492 m2, 1,000 m2 consist of a F+H Hydroponic system and 492 m2 of climbing plants that cover the windows. Over 33,000 native plants of different varieties were planted from the area of Álava and the Basque Country. The design draws on the ecosystems that exist in the vicinity of Vitoria-Gasteiz and represents them along the length of the facade. From left to right are the vegetative communities of the Salburua wetlands; countryside agricultural field plots planted with seasonal crops; loamy hill ecosystems; and the beech forests of the local Vitoria mountains. At the base of the greenwall a continuous backlit Corten steel seatwall integrates informative signage, allowing visitors in both Spanish and Basque to learn about the various ecosystems that are reproduced in the vertical garden along with the plant species that comprise each. A striking framework of aluminum strips straddle the building and delineate the various zones. Portions on two sides are illuminated at night, making the convention center a dramatic focal point of the city.

Find more photos and additional information about this project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

Year: 2013
Owner: City of Vitoria-Gasteiz
Location: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Building Type: Commercial
Type: Living Wall
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 16,060 sq.ft.
Slope: 100%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Greenwall Design & Management: Urbanarbolismo and SingularGreen
Greenwall System: F+P Hydroponic
Construction: Zikotz and Urbaser
Photography: Quintas Fotografos, Jordi Serramia Ruiz, and Hugo Riquelme Ortega

Project of the Week Video Feature

Watch the Europa Congress Palace Convention Center Project of the Week Video below or see it on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube:

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Love the Earth, Plant a Roof (or Wall)!

~ Linda V.