8 kilometres of hornbeam hedge, over 30,000 plants – Europe’s largest green façade is complete. The facade is an essential part of the Kö-Bogen II business and office building by ingenhoven architects.
The ensemble completes an extensive urban redevelopment in the centre of Düsseldorf (Capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). At the same time, it represents a paradigm shift: from an urban perspective, the shift away from the automotive age, the shift towards people as a benchmark and with the expansive green façade for a possible response of cities to climate change.
To give back as much greenery as possible to the city is a task that ingenhoven architects have been pursuing for decades with projects across different climates and continents – under the term supergreen®, the company pursues a comprehensive sustainability concept.
With hornbeam, a native plant species was deliberately chosen. Through a comprehensive phytotechnological concept, the hedges become an integral part of the building. They improve the microclimate of the city – the green shields the sun’s rays in summer and reduces the inner-city heat effect, binds carbon dioxide, stores moisture, dampens noise and promotes biodiversity. The ecological benefits of hornbeams correspond to those of about 80 mature deciduous trees.
A possible response of cities to climate change.