Work starts today on the installation of the seventy-five trees on the roof garden of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. This is the first publicly accessible art depot in the world, designed by MVRDV.
In the next two weeks, 75 multi-stemmed birches will be lifted 35 meters by BAM Bouw en Techniek with a special tele-crane and then planted on the roof of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. Here the trees become part of a green roof garden with a restaurant and spectacular views of the city.
The chosen tree is the Betula Pubescens, a soft birch that grows up to ten meters high and is resistant to the weather conditions on the roof. The trees are between ten and fifteen years old and have been prepared for the new location at height for the past three years. A special watering system ensures that the trees are never dry. Aftercare is provided by a specialized arborist who regularly monitors the trees for vitality, health and moisture management. How long the tree lives depends on various factors such as weather influences. The vast majority of these strong pioneer trees – which need little to survive – are expected to survive for several decades. The tree is also referred to as a “tough rascal” by the Limburg grower. 6th April 2020
