The World Horticultural Exhibition ‘Floriade Expo’ takes place once every 10 years in the Netherlands. From 5 April to 7 October 2012 the sixth edition of the Floriade was organised in the city of Venlo. More than two million visitors could enjoy the world’s most beautiful and special flowers, plants, trees, vegetables and fruits.
Sustainability, as an indispensable social theme, was evidently also integrated in the activities around Floriade 2012. The Floriade BV, the Venlo Region, the Chamber of Commerce and the Province of Limburg embrace the sustainability principles of Cradle to Cradle and jointly profile themselves as a sustainable region.

In the ‘Villa Flora’ utility building on the Floriade site, the energy is derived from renewable sources. The wastewater is treated as much as possible in an anaerobic digester. In front of the office building are waterless urinals and vacuum toilets where the wastewater is collected and fermented together with organic waste (e.g. from the canteen) and vegetable waste from the nearby greenhouse area.
The remaining wastewater from sinks, for example, is treated separately using a helophyte filter.

Within this project, DeSaH is responsible for writing the feasibility study, the process design for specific treatment components, and the detailed designs and supply of the collection system and water treatment plant.

Project partners:

  • Architects and Engineers Kristinsson B.V.
  • Floriade B.V.
  • Lettinga Assocoates Foundation
  • Pellikaan
  • TerBerg Systeemintegratie
  • Volantis

DeSaH input:

  • Feasibility study
  • Process design
  • Detailed design
  • Supplier