Over the past year Mirck Architecture has been doing research on sun shading systems incorporating climbing plants with the aim of developing a smart, biobased and low-tech sun shading solution for standard biobased housing blocks, without compromising daylight.
As the Netherlands is facing more heatwaves, there are increasing issues with the overheating of homes. Energy intensive air conditioning systems are not a sustainable or economical long-term solution. Conventional sun shading is better but seldom implemented in housing blocks. Sun shading with climbing plants offers more effective protection against the sun.
Existing climbing plant systems rely heavily on steel cables and frames and are mostly applied on closed concrete facades. There is a lack of biobased options, systems designed for sun shading, and for biobased buildings.
This is why Mirck Architecture wants to develop and promote bioshading: towards a future vision of biobased buildings with biobased sun shading through plants, combined with good daylight conditions.
Foliage in summer provides sun shading and more effective cooling than conventional sunshading. In winter, some plants lose their leaves, allowing more daylight to enter.
To ensure the proposals are actually realized, we have been in consultation with climbing plant expert Teun van de Sterre from Urban Climbers and institutions such as TU Delft, TU Eindhoven and TU Berlin with current and past research knowledge on the topics of planted shading systems and daylight.
Maehara House Tokyo (2015) in summer (left) and winter (right)
Mirck has begun implementing bioshading in the design of future housing projects. We propose a system combining cables and bamboo climbing supports. In the future, we hope to achieve a fully biobased support system.
Ontwerp-Nationale Klimaatadaptatiestrategie 2026 stresses the importance of exterior sunshading (in combination with good insulation and natural ventilation) as a sustainable way of protecting homes from overheating. This should already be integrated in the architecture of new-builds and renovations.
Title: Bioshading – biobased shading system with climbers
Research & design: 2025-
Construction: 2027-
Team: Sander Mirck, David Künzel, Maurice Visser, Sini Huttunen
Partner: ACC – Glass and Facade Consultancy, Anton Hendrix