1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Venezia
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Il Tetto Verde della Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto Onlus
Short description of the intervention
The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, a social welfare organization and regional centre of reference for cornea transplantation and research into epithelial stem cells, is a distinct and iconic project which embraces architect Emilio Ambasz's philosophy of "The Green Over the Gray," or the landscape over the building. It is a triangular-shaped building with a series of landscaped terraces at each floor level on one side. On the opposite side, the building rises as a series of steps that lead to a flat planted roof garden turning it into an outdoor amphitheatre. The combination of the plantings and deep overhangs minimises the impact of heat loads by blocking sunlight during the middle of the day (ref 1).
Address

Via Paccagnella 11
30174 Zelarino - Venice
Italy

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Total area
7145.00m²
NBS area
7145.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Building
Website of the intervention
https://www.greenroofs.com/projects/veneto-eye-bank-foundation-fondazione-banca…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2004
End date of the intervention
2008
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
1. Creation of a unique building perfectly merged with its natural surrounding.
2. To embrace architect Emilio Ambasz’s philosophy of “The Green Over the Gray,” or the landscape over the building (ref 1, 2, 3).
Quantitative targets
Unknown.
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown.
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Improving mental health
Implementation activities
The building was commissioned by the Eye Bank Foundation and constructed between 2004 and 2008. 7145 sq. m. of (estimated) Greenroof, Landscaped Terraces & Below Grade Parking Garage (On Structure Greenroof) were installed. The building rises as a series of steps that lead to a flat planted roof garden. These steps make the entire living roof an outdoor amphitheatre. With Drainroof, support in regenerated polypropylene designed for the realization of hanging gardens, the extensive green areas were built to cover the underground parking lot, the roof of the Banca degli Occhi Foundation, the roof of the hospital’s side entrance. Drainroof has been chosen to guarantee the perfect protection of the waterproofing sheath of the roofs and the correct accumulation of water, the right drainage and the necessary green ventilation. The hanging garden has been planted with Sedum, which has been very well developed just one year after sowing. Drainroof has been much appreciated for its simplicity and speed of installation, which has guaranteed to the work direction the respect of the construction times, as well as for the technical characteristics because it is safe, resistant and long-lasting. (1 and 2).
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Nature on buildings (external)
Green roofs
Green walls or facades
Type of Green Wall
Substrate / soil-based living wall
Type of Green Roof
Semi-intensive Green Roof: depth 5 - 7 inches; plants: Selected Perennials, Sedums, ornamental Grasses, Herbs and little Shrubs; Medium maintenance and costs
Vegetation Type
Shrubs
Trees
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Outdoor amphitheater
Amenities offered by the NBS
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Private sector/Corporate/Company
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Researchers, university
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The client of the project is the Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, a private institution that commissioned the building as new headquarter for research. The building has been designed by Emilio Ambasz Associates architect studio. Several construction companies took part in different aspects of the creation of the building (ref 1, 4).
Key actors - initiating organization
Private foundation/trust
Land owners
Hospital
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Hospital
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
Voluntary private building design and construction (ref 1).
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Please specify other vegetation type
Sedum
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
No
Co-financing governance arrangements
No
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
No
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
€ 26.000.000 - 30.000.000 (ref 2, 5).
Source(s) of funding
Corporate investment
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green densification model
Green health model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Construction of a eye-shaped building with a green roof and green landscape terraces, making it look like an amphitheater merged in nature (1).
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Emilio Ambasz is an architect who always merges green with grey infrastructures (1, 2 and 4).
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Increased number of species present
Description of environmental benefits
1. The combination of the plantings and deep overhangs minimize the impact of heat loads by blocking sunlight during the middle of the day. This helps in cooling the building as well as controls the local temperature.
2. The new trees and shrubs planted along with the sedums help in promoting biodiversity and improves the air quality. (ref 1, 3)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Increased perception of safety
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Improved mental health
Description of social and cultural benefits
1. The roof is a stepped section plane covered in fragrant greenery smelled by the patients on entering. It also serves as open-air auditorium as well as an emergency exit stairway from each floor.
2. The staff, patients and visitors are given easy access to an urban green space enjoying the benefits as well as the aesthetics. (ref 1, 3)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Temperature reduction and noise reduction (ref 1, 3, 4)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Environmental quality
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of September, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data at specific time intervals during the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Interviews
Observation (including virtual surveillance methods)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown.
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
NBS webpage
Eye Bank
Novello Group
SEDE FUNDACION BANCO DE OJOS VENETO
Building of futuristic architecture indicates technological development of inst…
Mestre: la Banca dell’Occhio di Emilio Ambasz
List of references
1. Greenroofs. (2018) VENETO EYE BANK FOUNDATION (FONDAZIONE BANCA DEGLI OCCHI DEL VENETO ONLUS). Greenroofs.com. Available at: http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1784. Accessed on 24th September, 2020.
2. Emilio Ambasz. (no date) Banka Degli Occhi. Available at: http://emilioambaszandassociates.com/recent/Banca-del-Occhio. Accessed on 24th September, 2020.
3. Velazquez, L. (2016) Greenroofs.com. Vailable at: https://www.greenroofs.com/2016/12/19/project-week-december-19-2016-veneto-eye-bank-foundation-fondazione-banca-degli-occhi-del-veneto-onlus/. Accessed on 25th September, 2020.
4. Gardinetti, M. (2020) Emilio Ambasz, máscara simbólica en el Veneto. Available at: https://tecnne.com/arquitectura/ambasz-veneto/. Accessed on 25th September, 2020.
5. Building of futuristic architecture indicates technological development of institution: Available at: http://www.hospitalarquitetura.com.br/internacional/39-predio-de-arquitetura-futurista-assinala-desenvolvimento-tecnologico-de-instituicao.html. Accessed on 25th September, 2020.
6. Dragone R. (2017) Mestre: la Banca dell’Occhio di Emilio Ambasz: Available at: http://www.archiportale.com/news/2007/04/architettura/mestre-la-banca-dell-occhio-di-emilio-ambasz_9685_3.html. Accesses on 25th September, 2020.
Comments and notes
Comments
I contacted the Foundation with specific questions about the missing information. Waiting for an answer -> as of today, still no answer.
Public Images
Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
Source: Ref. 1
Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
Source: Ref. 1
Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
Source: Ref. 1
Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
Veneto Eye Bank Foundation
Source: Ref. 1