Amsterdam, Netherlands
City population: 1006832
Duration: 2013 – 2016
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: 1236 m2
Type of area: Building
Last updated: October 2021

The Polder Roof is a green roof originally installed on the top of the Old School Amsterdam, Gaasterlandstraat, Amsterdam with innovative controllable water storage and drainage system on which crops are grown, solar panels are installed and that provides space for recreation. (1,2) Thereby, it combines multiple benefits including the reduction of heat stress, noise reduction, sustainable energy provision, biodiversity, food production and climate change adaptation (2,7). The Polder Roof was a pilot project that won an innovation award and is viewed as an example for urban climate change adaptation solutions. (2). In 2019, due to the renovation of the former Old School building, it was necessary to relocate the Polder roof to a different place. The Polder Roof is a completely de-mountable system, made up of crates with a sedum layer on top, thus it could be removed quite easily from the Old School roof and put somewhere else. In the name of circularity, the sustainable drainage system was moved to the roof of the South Food Bank building. (10,11,12) With the relocation of the Polder Roof system, however, the size of the green roof has decreased to 1200 sqm from 2010 sqm (2).

Polder Roof Zuidas
Source: https://dakdokters.nl/en/portfolio-items/polderroof-zuidas/

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Nature on buildings (external)
  • Green roofs
  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Other
  • Green areas for water management
  • Sustainable urban drainage systems

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Environmental quality
  • Air quality improvement
  • Noise reduction
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Regulation of built environment
  • Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable production

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature

Project objectives

1. Creation of sustainable rainwater storage and decelerated drainage [1-7] by means of a sustainable urban drainage system 2. Promotion of urban biodiversity through the diverse plants planted on the rooftop garden. [2,7] 3. Creation of a rooftop garden that besides a sustainable drainage system, is also aesthetically pleasing and suitable for food growing and relaxation (2) Since its relocation to the roof of the South Food Bank building, new objectives have been identified: - Improve the insulation of the building and reduce utility bills (10)

Implementation activities

- Installation of the Polder Roof sustainable drainage system (1,2) - Plantation of plants and vegetables/herbs on the Polder system (2) - Installation of solar panels (1) - Installation of Control system: Smart Flow Control that automatically controls water storage and flow (3,8) - Open the roof recreational purposes and educational tours (2) Due to the relocation of the rooftop garden, the re-installation of the drainage system and sedum vegetation was required (10)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
  • Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)

Main beneficiaries

  • Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
  • Private sector/Corporate/Company
  • Researchers/University
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Business association or network

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Co-management/Joint management

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The Polder Roof was initiated by the Green Business Club Zuidas (business association), financed by the municipality of Amsterdam ('Grond en Ontwikkeling' and 'Dienst Zuidas') and implemented by Waternet (water company) and De Dakdokters ('The Roof Docters', a company that is specialized in green roofs). (1,2,4,5,6,7) Rooftop Revolution is a non-profit organization that has supported in the guidance of the Polder Roof Zuidas (4). The relocation of the Polder Roof to the South Food Market (Zuid Voor Mekaar) was also financed by the district municipality, Amsterdam Zuidas and Waternet. The removal and packing of the elements were largely done with volunteers and led by De Dakdokters. Amsterdam Zuidas took care of the transport (11)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? No
... a national policy or strategy? No
... a local policy or strategy? No

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Lowered local temperature
  • Environmental quality
  • Improved air quality
  • Reduced noise exposure
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area

Economic impacts

  • Other

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

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

References

1. De Dakdokters. (n.d.). Polderdak – Zuidas. Accessed on October 28, 2020, Source link
2. Stolp, S. (2015). Het Polderdak. Accessed on October 28, 2020, Source link
3. Unknown (n.d.). Source link werkt het Polderdak? Accessed on October 28, 2020, Source link
4. Rooftop Revolution (n.d.). Polderdak Zuidas. Website not available
5. Nederland Word Tanders. (n.d.). Polderdak Zuidas. Website not available
6. Gemeente Amsterdam (2014). Polderdak Zuidas. Website not available
7. Green Business Club Zuidas (n.d.). Het Polderdak. Website not available
8. Unknown (2016). Retentiedak Smart Flow Control. Website not available
9. Gemeente Amsterdam (2011). Structuurvisie Amsterdam 2040. Utrecht: Municipality of Utrecht. [pdf] Website not available
10. Amsterdam Rainproof. (2020).Polderdak Old School verhuist naar de Voedselbank. Accessed on October 28, 2020, Source link
11. Green Business Club Amsterdam Zuidas. (2020). Polderdak Old School verhuisd naar de Voedselbank. Accessed on October 28, 2020, Source link
12. Het Parool. (2020). 's Werelds eerste Polderdak verhuist naar Voedselbank Zuid. Accessed on October 28, 2020, Source link
13. Rooftop Revolution. (n.d.). Gementeelijke subsidies. Accessed on October 28, 2020, Source link
Polder Roof Zuidas
Source: https://dakdokters.nl/en/portfolio-items/polderroof-zuidas/
Polder Roof Zuidas
Source: https://dakdokters.nl/en/portfolio-items/polderroof-zuidas/
Polder Roof Zuidas
Source: http://greenbusinessclub.nl/zuidas/polderdak-old-school-verhuist-aar-de-voedselbank/
Polder Roof Zuidas
Source: http://greenbusinessclub.nl/zuidas/polderdak-old-school-verhuist-aar-de-voedselbank/
Polder Roof Zuidas
Source: http://greenbusinessclub.nl/zuidas/polderdak-old-school-verhuist-aar-de-voedselbank/