Anthura builds greenhouse of the future

05-10-2007 | Anthura uses innovative techniques for maximum climate control in the greenhouse. The new production location of Anthura will be a real eye catcher in the landscape of Bleiswijk. At the end of September 2007 the building of the innovative greenhouse has been started.

The occasion
During a few decades the different production departments: Anthura Plant, Anthura Microplants and Anthura Production were housed on different locations in Bleiswijk. In view of efficiency in the future a central production for young plants is desirable. Anthura chooses consciously to remain its production in the Netherlands. The building plans for the greenhouse complexes are ready and the building will be realized before the end of 2008.

Special architecture
The impressive architecture and the beautiful rounding of the Palm house of the “Royal Botanic Gardens van Kew” in London have been the most important source of inspiration for the design. The greenhouse was built in 1848 and during that period, more of these special greenhouses were built in Europe. The greenhouses were designed by prominent architects. Almost all Royal palaces had an orangery, a Palm house and greenhouses for botanical plant collections. The peculiarity of the greenhouses form that period is that it are ancient examples of structural steelwork, a technique with which people could build the skyscrapers. All the remaining greenhouses are listed as monument.

If in that age greenhouses were built near Royal Palaces in order to impress important visitors, then it should now be possible to build a greenhouse that everybody likes. The new greenhouse of Anthura is indeed spectacular: the complex will not be hidden behind a façade. It has the charm of orangeries and botanic gardens of around 1850, but is built with the most modern material and provided with the newest cultivation techniques. The greenhouse itself is the centre in the design and matches with the ambition of Anthura to create an inspiring working environment for its employees and to be an embellishment of the landscape.

Modern techniques
The greenhouse complex has a surface of 12 ha, plus a 2 ha double-storied floor (total 140.000m2 floor area). It’s unique and completely provided with an automated container system. By means of maximum climate control considerably lower energy consumption is realizable. Important, modern techniques are implemented, of which three developed by Anthura: diaphragm screen, ‘greenhouse in a greenhouse’ and Counterflow.

The diaphragm screen sees to an optimal regulation of sunlight and prohibits light emission of the growing light during the night. The system of ‘greenhouse in a greenhouse’ contributes to a good growing start of micro plants at a high humidity and is also s closed greenhouse system by which warmth can be obtained. Counterflow is an advanced current of air system. The basic principal is that the current of air moves from the side of the greenhouse and through ventilation windows in the roof, outside.

Furthermore the phytosanitary measures are further intensified to prevent diseases. There will be a corridor around the whole complex, in which a lot of technique will be stored. This is advantageous as the cultivation space does not have to be entered for maintenance and control. The corridor is also an extra insulation layer for the outside wall and has a length of 1.625 meters and a height of 9 meters.

The greenhouse will be built by JM van der Hoeven BV from ‘s-Gravenzande. This company has been involved with the design of the greenhouse from the start. The architecture is supervised by Aad Bom from Naaldwijk.

The new Anthura greenhouse will result in a good climate, for both plants and employees, it will be a benefit to the surroundings, will be climate friendly and will produce an even better quality of products.