It can be assumed that current building materials contribute significantly to CO2 emissions and resource depletion. Biobased building materials are more sustainable to produce compared to many other materials such as aluminium, plastics, and concrete. During the cultivation of the crops used in biobased materials, CO2 is actually removed from the atmosphere and stored as carbon.
Society has an increasing demand for high-quality products and materials with minimal environmental impact. It is expected that legislation such as the Green Deal, New European Bauhaus, and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will significantly strengthen this emerging demand in the near future. In the Netherlands, recommendations have been made by organizations like the Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving (Environmental Assessment Agency) and Sociaal Economische Raad (Social Economic Council) to strengthen climate and circular policies. Additionally, by 2030, government bodies and water boards are required to already make 50% of their purchases circulair – this number should be 100% by 2050. These factors together create strong incentives to make the 20 million square meters of facade constructed annually in the Netherlands more sustainable by using biobased materials.
Innovation Pavilion Marineterrein
Wethouder Van Dantzig recently officially opened the Innovation Pavilion. The 6×6 meter building showcases various innovative building materials and systems. For instance, seaweed panels have been used in unexpected places instead of traditional plasterboard, and the green roof features an innovative system for easier and faster installation of solar panels.
The municipality of Amsterdam and AMS Institute support companies in demonstrating and researching their materials and products. After a year of testing, the city of Amsterdam will collaborate with the construction sector to explore what is needed to scale up biobased construction. The Innovation Pavilion can be visited at Marineterrein, located by the inner harbor opposite NEMO.
Facade Design
Studio Marco Vermeulen designed the façade panel. The design is based on organic structures that provide strength to leaves, for example. The three-dimensional structure of the panels also ensures strength and efficient use of material. This structural design gives the façade panel excellent mechanical properties despite its minimal thickness.
The panel is designed to be rotated at 90, 180, and 270 degrees while seamlessly connecting to adjacent panels. This creates a lively, natural pattern, making each facade unique. Despite using only one type of panel that can be industrially produced (pressed) using a mold, it offers versatility due to its ability to use either side as the front, resulting in a completely different pattern.
The biocomposite facade panel is fully pigmented throughout its thickness, allowing for clean cuts without any unsightly edges. Numerous colors are possible. For this pavilion, a brick-red color was chosen to reference the expressive organic architecture associated with Amsterdam’s School style.
The façade combines innovative (biobased) material usage with nature enhancement. Some panels feature holes which serve as nesting sites for birds and insects. Monitoring will be conducted over the next few months to assess the level of utilization by wildlife.
Nabasco 8012 Material
The facade panels are made from Nabasco® 8012 biocomposite material. This material consists of local natural waste streams such as reed and lime from drinking water companies, along with a partially biobased resin. These are low or even negative CO2-footprint resources that do not compete with food production or come from faraway places. The production process is comparable to making bread, where the ingredients are kneaded into a dough and then pressed into a mold. The resulting material is strong, dimensionally stable, and high-quality with a long lifespan.
There is no waste generated during the production of Nabasco® material. It is a thermosetting biocomposite in which exactly the required amount of raw material goes into each facade part. This prevents deformation and enables the panel to withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -50° to +150° Celsius. After its extensive use, the facade part can be recycled as raw material for producing new Nabasco biocomposite products.
