The 19,000 square foot VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre creates a harmonious balance between architecture and landscape from a visual and ecological perspective. Inspired by the organic forms and natural systems of a native orchid, the building is organized into undulating green roof ‘petals’ that float above curved rammed earth and concrete walls.

The Living Building Challenge is a building certification program, and the hardest to achieve. A Living Building is one that generates all of its own power, and treats all of its own waste water.

To meet the stringent requirements of the Living Building Challenge, The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre facility uses on-site, renewable sources to achieve net-zero energy on an annual basis; sequesters enough carbon to achieve carbon neutrality; uses filtered rainwater for the building’s greywater requirements; and treats 100% of blackwater in an on-site bioreactor.

 

 

The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre systems diagram

The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre systems diagram via Perkins & Will

Green roof on the The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Green roof on the The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre via Perkins & Will

The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre Via The Vancouver Sun
The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre via Perkins & Will
The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre via Perkins & Will