A green oasis in the middle of the city: the power of sustainability

Joosten Group is a leading infrastructure, water management and urban green space company. With nine different specialist bv's, Joosten Groep knows how to serve the entire sector. "Our strength is that we have the knowledge, products and complete systems in house in all areas," says Derksen. "From infiltration crate to smart water circulation system: we have the specialists and the resources to make it happen."

An important part of Joosten Group's services is providing courses and master classes. "We find it important to share our knowledge. That provides great opportunities for all parties."

This proved to be the case for a recent project in Rijswijk. "Hoveniersbedrijf Doeleman saw an increase in green roofs and asked us for help with the technology behind it, or rather underneath it," Derksen explains. Joosten Groep provided a course and a month later they stepped on board with the landscapers to realize a roof garden for apartment complex The Harbour House. 

The old office building was renovated into a modern living environment where residents can enjoy both their apartments and the common areas. The roof garden on top of the parking garage plays a central role in this concept. The goal? A green oasis that promotes biodiversity and provides an attractive meeting place for residents and the surrounding community.

Joosten Group was instrumental in the technical completion of the landscape architect's design. "We optimized what was technically necessary to realize the design," says Derksen. "After all, planting vegetation on a roof is very different from planting it in the ground. Instead of two meters of ground coverage, here you already have concrete after 30 centimeters. You have to take that into account, because not all plants thrive in a non-natural environment."

The roof garden at The Harbour House was designed to be both functional and attractive. A variety of plantings have been installed to promote biodiversity, including flowering plants that attract bees and butterflies. The garden also includes lawns, paved paths and elevation changes that create a dynamic and interesting landscape. Beautiful containers of plants have been placed around the meeting areas, which are not only visually appealing but also contribute to the garden's ecosystem. A pergola at the back of the garden provides shade and a soothing place for residents to gather.

Sustainability is always an important issue for Joosten Group. And in this project, it was no different. "We use high-quality plastic products that can be recycled to minimize environmental impact," Derksen said. "We have special HIPS sheets that can hold 12 gallons of water for dry times. Our environmental cost indicator on layers is unprecedentedly low. We think about our environmental impact with every layer." The use of recyclable materials and sustainable water circular concepts highlights Joosten Group's commitment to environmentally friendly solutions.

Derksen is particularly proud of the cooperation and the result of this project in Rijswijk. "It is great to see how a landscaping company that has already made its mark in another branch is now shifting its expertise to green roofs and sending its staff on courses. We were allowed to train them and then jumped into this project together. There was a bond of trust from the beginning, and it remained to the end. This is a textbook example of what good cooperation looks like."

The project at The Harbour House is a success story for Joosten Group. A testament to their expertise and ability to provide sustainable, innovative solutions in urban environments.