Architecture for nature

IBN-DLO Wageningen, the Netherlands                     by  Stefan Behnisch
Garden and landscape design
The design of the internal and external gardens of the IBN building benefited to the greatest possible extent from knowledge on sustainable nature management existing within the IBN-DLO. The basic departure point of sustainable nature management is o create a semi-natural ecological equilibrium by attuning the vegetation as closely as possible to such abiotic factors as the soil and water quality. Only minimal human intervention should be necessary to help maintain this equilibrium. The essence of he design is to allow the plants to do themselves maximum justice.

The combination of glazing , shading from direct sunlight 

and natural ventilation puts the climatic conditions of the internal gardens almost on a pat with an open, light woodland landscape. The fact that the cycle of seasons is so visible definitely contributes something to the enjoyment of the gardens.

The landscape architect Hyco Verhaggen and his colleague Charlotte Korthals Altes, originally planned to provide the interior gardens with a very wide range of plants. This changed when the architect brought in the American artist Michael Singer to realize a number of water sculptures on a commission funded under by the 'percentage rule', which allocates a specific percentage of the budget for Dutch government building projects to the fine arts.

 
The design of the IBN building's external garden a as nature garden was joint project of the landscape architect Van Hees, who was responsible for the visual design, and the IBN ecologist Londo for the ecological concepts and detailing. There are two gardens, one of each side of the building, have the same dimensions as the covered internal gardens and are bounded by low walls. The four rectangular external and internal gardens fall into a clear sequence: a meadow garden at the main entrance, the two glass-roofed interior gardens, and a marsh garden at the east end of the building. The last of these is designed as a semi-natural landscape which gradually merges into the large garden at the rear of the building.


 

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