Willy Naessens bioclimatic glass roof

A rectangular atrium of 48m long and 12m wide is covered with a glass roof. It is not just an atrium roof, but a bioclimatic glass roof. The glass roof will regulate the
climate for an inner garden where people can meet, work and relax. It will be a volume where people and plants can thrive together.

The glass roof consists of arched trusses that span 12m. These are placed every 6m and are connected with steel purlins. An aluminum grid will be placed on top of this, which will support the double glazing. The arched trusses are 1m higher than the roof curb. This meter is completed with an automated louvre facade in glass for ventilation. A sun blind is stretched between the rafters, which is automatically controlled to dim the barrel vault. The opening slats as well as the sun blinds are managed by a climate computer that regulates the natural climate of this inner garden at all times in function of temperature, light, heat and wind.

The group around Willy Naessens realizes a turnover of around one billion euros. To sustain their growth, they need a new office on the site of their headquarters in Wortegem-Petegem. They are short of space in their existing office building and they want to expand it. But Willy Naessens is up to date and wishes to contribute to
the ecologization of buildings. In his new design he has integrated an inner garden with plants larger than life and mature native trees. It will be the green lung of the  company where people cross paths, drink a cup of coffee and can exchange informally about work. The inner garden is not part of the protected volume, but insulating
glazing was nevertheless chosen. A system of natural ventilation and integrated interior sun protection must ensure a regulated pleasant indoor climate