Jo Coenen Architects & Urbanists (JCAU) created a landmark building for Floriade 2012, a major horticultural expo held in Venlo, Netherlands. Named the Innovation Complex, the tower’s design focused on both sustainability and environmental friendliness, and was recognisable from a distance thanks to its white facade and giant arcade. In 2012, Venlo was the host city of the global exhibition that takes place every ten years.
Concept and vision
The design and realisation of the Floriade 2012 were inspired by the principles of the cradle-to-cradle philosophy. After the exhibition, the site was further developed into a high-quality and sustainable business park called Venlo Greenpark, where work is combined with greenery and relaxation.
As the landmark entrance to Floriade 2012, the Innovation Complex brought new concepts of design, spaces and facilities to life. The tall and abstract building had a gross floor area of approximately 6,000m², distributed over ten floors. At the top, a roof terrace provided beautiful views over the site and Venlo.
Architecture and materials
The sustainability of the Innova tower was tackled integrally. Much attention was paid to technology, lifespan, space and costs. It is an 'intelligent' building, which accommodates both office space and public functions and enables people to function for a long time in a pleasant environment.
As a result of the smallest possible energy demand, combined with a high accumulating capacity, a limited installation with minimal primary energy consumption and maintenance was planned. In addition to the EFTE air cushion roof, this has resulted in numerous sustainability measures: a double glass facade and double floor, hybrid ventilation, soil energy – cold-heat storage (CHS), thermal chimney, PV cells, grey water, indoor climate zoning, energy exchange, lighting, building control and drinking water reduction. With these features, not only is energy loss reduced, but the use of environment, soil and solar energy is also maximised.
Why EQUITONE [natura]?
To make the tower a real landmark, the architects chose EQUITONE [natura] and [pictura] cladding materials. These cladding panels, which were attached using the invisible Tergo fastening system, can be used for both vertical and horizontal facade surfaces. In addition, the white boards could be supplied in large format sizes and without dark edges. Equitone fibre cement cladding was chosen for its functionality as well as visual appeal.
