Courtyards WGV Versicherung aG Greening requirements implemented in terms of design

In the centre of Stuttgart at Österreichischer Platz, the new extension of Württembergische Gemeinde-Versicherung AG (WGV) was completed after more than two years of construction. This extension created four inner courtyards shielded from street noise. Despite hurdles, such as additional building regulations, the essential design elements of the outdoor facilities could be realized. Since the inauguration at the end of May 2008, visitors and employees of the WGV have enjoyed spending time in the bright and sophisticatedly designed inner courtyards.

On the almost completely underbuilt inner courtyard areas of the WGV (around 95 percent on underground car park ceilings), the Stuttgart building regulations office demanded an intensive greening of at least 50 percent. Thus, in addition to the oversized planters with small-crowned rock pears, a second level of greenery was created in the form of planting beds.

The irrigation of all vegetation is automatic. The approximately 1.10-metre-high fibreglass planters, which are embedded in the pavement, were also fitted with an automatic irrigation system underground to ensure an adequate water supply at all times.
With a structure height of only around 20 centimetres in courtyards 1 and 2, the cavities under the eight-centimetre-thick, elevated concrete slabs with white granite facing provide sufficient space to accommodate various supply lines such as automatic irrigation and lighting. Furthermore, the resulting hollow space provides sufficient volume for the drainage of rainwater.

On the newly created roofs of the office complex, special importance was attached to wind suction protection due to a required greening of 80 percent. Instead of a normal design with concrete slab, the area of the roof along the parapet that is susceptible to wind suction was laid out with pre-greened composite plastic grids.

The planting systems are the green lungs of the WGV. A total of around 650 square metres of intensively greened and sophisticatedly designed inner courtyards have been created with a total of 58 small-crowned trees. In addition, there are around 2,000 square metres of extensively greened roof areas, which improve the indoor and urban climate.