24 November 2022 | News
Business Park Amsterdam Osdorp has constructed a circular road. Working with contractor KWS and consultancy firm Tauw, we looked at how to make the project as sustainable as possible. Only soil and sand from the area itself was used. This meant that around 40,000 m3 of soil did not need to be removed from the site, resulting in approximately 1,600 fewer truck journeys to and from the business park.
Longer lifespan
Circular area development requires flexibility and a tailor-made approach. Usually, a contractor builds a road first and only then digs the ditches. At Business Park Amsterdam Osdorp, this process was reversed to ensure that as much raw material as possible was reused. The road was built using the sandy soil that was released when the ditches were dug. The contractor mixed this sand with a special binding agent and used it to make a 45cm-high foundation. This was then covered with a thin layer of asphalt to form the road’s surface. This meant that hardly any raw materials had to be brought in and the stronger foundation will give the road a longer lifespan.
Area development 2.0
Business Park Amsterdam Osdorp aims to develop a future-proof business park that adds economic and ecological value. Thus we set the bar high when it comes to circular area development. The development plan specifically considers the existing polder landscape and the flora and fauna found in the area. The idea is that the area will have more plant and animal species after development than before. This autumn, for instance, 25 elms from Amsterdam Noord that were to be felled will be re-located to the park, giving them a second life.
Water and wadis
The park will also be rich in water with some 20,000 m2 of wadis and other water features holding 25,000 m2 of water. The Arabic word ‘wadi’ for a ravine, channel or riverbed is used in the Netherlands as an abbreviation for ‘Water Afvoer Drainage en Infiltratie’ (‘water drainage and infiltration’). A wadi is a ditch that stores and purifies rainwater, after which the water drains into the subsoil. The ditches and water features blend well with the polder landscape and the wadis help against flooding and drought. To encourage bats, which function as a natural form of pest control, a ‘bat route’ has been specially created to match their natural behaviour.
800 new trees
When landscaping the area, trees, shrubs and plants are selected that take into consideration the natural behaviour of animals. More than 800 new trees will be planted whose diversity not only creates a changing landscape but will also attract different animals. Thanks to the innovative way in which water, greenery and buildings are treated, both people and animals will be able to enjoy the park.