Social Housing, Purmerend

Type: Exterior plaster, renovation, social housing apartment
Green facade surface: 260 m²

Project description:
This project concerns a social housing apartment building in Purmerend developed by Intermaris. The initial ambition of the developer was to create what would become the greenest building in the Netherlands. However, many conventional green facade solutions were eventually excluded due to cost and maintenance considerations.

Because of its innovative character and cost-effectiveness, the decision was made to green the building’s gable facade using Mosscrete, Respyre’s bioreceptive concrete technology that enables moss to grow directly on the building surface. Mosscrete is engineered to create the right conditions for moss establishment on vertical facades, allowing buildings to be transformed into living green structures without the need for complex planting systems.

Unlike traditional plants, moss does not develop roots but attaches itself using rhizoids—small hair-like structures that allow it to adhere to surfaces without penetrating or damaging the underlying construction. This makes it particularly suitable for renovation projects such as this social housing building.

Once established, the moss layer can largely sustain itself with minimal maintenance. It also contributes to a nature-inclusive urban environment by supporting small organisms and insects and by helping retain rainwater on the facade surface.

This project is one of the earliest implementations of Respyre’s Mosscrete technology and has served as an important learning experience in the practical application and development of bioreceptive facades.