Essenza Home opts for a sustainable green façade

In 2021, interior and lifestyle brand ESSENZA HOME moved into new, completely renovated offices in Bunnik (NL). The design of the new offices was fully focused on sustainability. The Mobilane green facade at ESSENZA HOME contributes to the company’s sustainability vision and extends a warm welcome to its retailers, customers, and staff. 

Family business Essenza Home has been designing, producing, and distributing home and lifestyle products to suit various interior styles for 60 years. In 2021, the company moved to new offices in Bunnik. Stretching across no less than 2,500 square meters, the new building is located directly on the A12 motorway. The new premises were built with one eye on the future and serve as the perfect expression of the company’s sustainability vision. As such, the sustainable green facade by Mobilane, called MobiPanel, was the logical choice.

Green facade installation

The green walls were installed quickly, without a hitch. Covering a total surface area of over 200 square meters, the green walls were installed on the stone and wooden facade using Magnelis steel omega profiles. The window and door sections and water and electricity pipes were all neatly incorporated into the design.

In total, almost 10,000 plants were placed in modular cassettes and pixels attached to the profiles. All of the cassettes, pixels, and covers are made of fire-retardant EPP (B-s2, d0). This material is light, UV-resistant, breathable (for good root growth), and fully recyclable. An automated irrigation system supplies the MobiPanel green walls with water and nutrients.

Plant selection for the green facades

The plants in the green facades were selected according to various factors. The orientation of the facade, the different flowering seasons, whether or not the plants encourage biodiversity, and finally, aesthetics were all considered. Bregenis “Bressingham White”, for example, is a beautiful spring bloomer with elegant white flowers appearing from April onwards. Vinca minor is a strong, evergreen covering plant. It also flowers very early in spring. Vinca minor can be used on facades in both sunny and shady spots, though it will produce more flowers in the sun than in the shade. Geranium “Rozanne” serves as a carrier plant for wild bees. Many species of wild bees, as well as butterflies and bumblebees, use this plant as a source of nectar.

Green facade advantages

The green wall on the two outer facades is a real eye-catcher. Floor Smits, Head of Brands and the second generation to join the family business, comments: “As a family business, we believe it is important to focus on the long term. As a result, we invested heavily in sustainable solutions during the renovation. When we were introduced to the option of a vertical garden for the facade, we instantly got excited. A green wall like this brings many advantages: it purifies the air, increases biodiversity, and provides a nice haven for bees and other insects. Finally, we wanted to make a statement and show that we are committed to a sustainable world” Aside from offices, the building also hosts a B2B showroom, and a brand store for individual consumers will be opened later this year.

Increased biodiversity

Rosalie Smits, Head of Channels and another member of the second generation at this family business, states that biodiversity is an important focal point for the organization. The green facade attracts many insects, encouraging biodiversity in the area. As mentioned earlier, the flowers of Geranium “Rozanne”, among others, provide nectar for many insects, such as wild bees and butterflies. Wild bees and butterflies are an important link in our food chain. They are responsible for 60% of the pollination of our fruit and vegetables.

The facades also attract various birds and other insects, and serve both as food and as nesting and hiding places. Birds can nest safely between the plants in the cassettes. The first bird’s nest in the green facade at Essenza Home was spotted just a few weeks after the system was installed.

Client: ESSENZA HOME
Architect: BK Punt
Construction period: 2021
Installation: MobiCare