The Valley
// With the Valley new-build project, Rotterdam architects MVRDV have added a green and human dimension to Amsterdam's Zuidas office district. The striking balconies of the three towers serve as outdoor seating for planting. The flat roofs and the accessible green areas are permanently waterproofed with the EPDM membrane RESITRIX® SK W Full Bond from CARLISLE®.
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With their "Valley" project, MVRDV has created an architecturally striking landmark on the motorway ring road that harmoniously unites urban living, working and life under one roof.
The iconic new building consists of a substantial base from which three intricately fractured towers rise to heights of 66, 76, and 100 meters, featuring up to 28 floors. From the ground floor to the seventh floor, the new building accommodates offices as well as spaces for culture and commerce. The residential levels begin from the eighth floor, comprising over 200 high-quality luxury apartments.
"There is a culture of fear in design. New buildings should look as neutral as possible. So that investors can resell them more easily and the city retains a uniform image."
Winy Maas,
Gründungspartner bei MVRDV
A particularly striking feature of the new building is its spectacular design with irregular balconies and lushly greened outer terraces that connect the three towers as a green "valley." This design successfully embodies the fundamental idea of architecture as a landscape. The total area of the green spaces amounts to approximately 10,000 m², comprised of the flat roofs of the towers as well as the planted and accessible utility areas.
The interplay between the two has resulted in a perfect realisation of the basic idea of architecture as a landscape. The total green area is around 10,000 m², consisting of the flat roofs of the towers and the planted and walkable areas and usable space.
"Dutch architecture is a global export product."
Jan Knikker, Partner at MVRDV
A major challenge in the construction was ensuring the permanent waterproofing of the various outdoor surfaces. The project developer EDGE chose CARLISLE®'s single-ply EPDM sealing RESITRIX® SK W Full Bond for its suitability.
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With half the material usage compared to conventional materials, EPDM offers a lifespan of over 50 years due to its extreme weather and ageing resistance, and its permanently elastic behaviour, as certified by a long-term study from the independent testing institute Süddeutsches Kunststoff-Zentrum (SKZ), specifically for seam joining. This ensures that the green valley is permanently protected against moisture. Additionally, the fully self-adhesive membranes are simple and safe to process. The seam joining is done using hot air without an open flame and without fire risk.
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Kirsten Ohlendorf
Further articles:
INSIGHT
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