Botanical gardens: a symbiosis of nature and technology
Botanical gardens conserve nature, educate, and boost biodiversity. Creating optimal conditions for rare plants demands innovation, precision, and a deep nature-tech synergy.
The science behind optimal growing conditions
Rare and exotic plants often need specific climatic conditions to survive. Such as specific humidity, temperature, light intensity and ventilation. Carefully controlling these factors is essential, especially in glass structures where these special plants are not dependent on the natural environment.
Tailor-made climate control
Modern technologies make it possible to create a controlled ecosystem that exactly matches the needs of rare flora. Climate zones within a botanical garden allow managers to allow tropical plants, desert flora and boreal plants to thrive in one building, for example. This requires a combination of precise climate control, such as humidity regulation, energy-efficient heating systems and solar energy.
Innovative materials
Materials such as high-quality insulating glass or multilayer ETFE foil ensure optimum light penetration and thermal efficiency. As a result, plants benefit from the necessary daylight without unnecessary energy loss. Moreover, shading systems and light-inhibiting techniques can be used to further refine the microclimate.
The role of technology in energy conservation
Building sustainable botanical gardens goes beyond simply protecting special and nearly extinct plants. The technologies used also minimise environmental impact. Think of energy recovery systems, rainwater harvesting, light regulation and advanced irrigation. These technologies not only reduce operational costs, but also contribute to the wider goals of sustainability and climate awareness.
The building as an ecosystem
A botanical garden is not just a collection of plants, but a holistic ecosystem that depends on the interplay between the natural elements and the technical infrastructure. The glass structure plays a central role in this. The combination of light, ventilation and insulation determines not only growing conditions, but also the experience of visitors.
For example, in a tropical greenhouse, the climate must be consistently stable - even a small deviation in temperature or humidity can have disastrous consequences for rare plant species. At the same time, the design must withstand external factors such as heat waves or storms, which are increasingly frequent due to climate change.
Customised climate control
Creating the perfect conditions for both visitors and plants requires precision and innovation. At EdenParks, we combine special greenhouse systems with advanced climate systems using sustainable technologies. These include climate zones, energy and water saving systems, and innovative applications such as translucent glass and ETFE foil. Every ecosystem gets the climate it needs, with minimal impact on energy costs.
An example of this is the greenhouse at RHS Garden Wisley's botanical garden, where we realised four different climate zones in a greenhouse of over 5,500 m². The 12.5-metre-high structure provides ideal conditions for exotic plants as well as for the million visitors who visit each year.
Inspiring projects worldwide
Our expertise goes beyond technology. For projects such as the butterfly garden for Wildlands Zoo Emmen, the botanical greenhouse for Flora Cologne and Bayan Palace in Kuwait, we fine-tune design, technical installations and climate control to the specific requirements. Even in extreme conditions, such as temperatures of 50 degrees in Kuwait, we realise comfortable and sustainable climate zones.
Botanical gardens of the future
We are currently building a special project in Sweden for the well-known botanical garden in Gothenburg. It involves a new botanical greenhouse and associated greenhouses with different heights up to a maximum of 17 metres. This project with a total area of 3,126 m2 is being built in two phases. More than 15 different worlds, each with their specific plant species, will be realised, each with their specific climate. It will then house more than 4,000 plant species, such as Sweden's largest collection of tropical orchids, carnivorous plants and the rare Easter tree, which is extinct in its natural habitat.
With the challenges of climate change and urbanisation, the importance of botanical gardens is only increasing. At EdenParks, we don't just build sustainable glass structures, we create spaces where nature and people come together. Spaces where nature inspires, relaxes and teaches.
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