A healthy biodiversity is vital to our planet. Without a rich variety of plants, animals and micro-organisms, every ecosystem falls out of balance. This applies not only to forests and nature reserves, it is precisely in our cities where we can make a difference. But how do you bring biodiversity back among stone, steel and asphalt? At Blooming Buildings, we have developed a clear compass for this: the 5 B’s of Biodiversity: living soil Beds, diverse Botanicals, year-round Blossoming, Balanced water management and Benevolent stewardship.
Nature always strives for balance. When one link is disrupted, the system seeks a new equilibrium, and that often comes at the expense of everything else. That is why we always look at the bigger picture. Only when all five B’s are in harmony can biodiversity truly flourish.
A healthy urban garden starts with what you cannot see. A living soil full of air, moisture, worms, fungi and bacteria is the foundation of everything.
At Blooming Buildings, we therefore go further than the usual standard. Where most parties excavate only 30 cm, we routinely create a healthy soil depth of 50 cm. We replace the existing ground with a carefully composed mixture: clean, free of polluting materials, tailored to the planting, as free as possible from weed seeds, and enriched with micro-organisms and living compost containing worms.
The result is a soil bed that breathes, retains water and teems with life. Ready to support the next B.
Biodiversity starts with variety. In every project, large or small, we use a minimum of 150 different plant species — sometimes up to 600. We combine perennials, annuals and biennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, bulbs, climbing plants and ferns, with native species as an important component.
Every design is tailor-made: adapted to the local soil, light conditions and microclimate. The result is unity in diversity: a living whole that attracts not only people, but also insects, birds, hedgehogs and bats.
During installation, you can literally watch life return.
Climate change is causing confusion in nature. Insects sometimes wake up in the middle of winter, only to find nothing to eat. That is why we create a year-round blossoming arch: something is always in bloom, in every season.
We choose plants not only for their beauty, but also for their ecological function: as a food source, shelter or host plant. This way, our designs offer everything that is needed, 365 days a year — for birds, insects, amphibians and other animals. But also for that species called the human being. Because thanks to the year-round blossoming arch, there is always something surprising to discover. Even on a grey day in January. And that does wonders for the soul.
Periods of drought are becoming increasingly common. Without smart water management, planting dies prematurely — and with it, all the life that depends on it.
That is why we integrate efficient irrigation systems into all our projects. We make maximum use of rainwater and grey water, and always explore opportunities for water storage. This keeps the planting healthy, even during hot summers, without unnecessary consumption of precious drinking water. At the same time, it allows plants to evaporate water and cool their surroundings.
Biodiversity demands constant attention, especially in the city. Our gardeners and managers are the custodians of every project. Weekly, they check the planting, soil and water management, carrying out subtle maintenance as they go.
They preferably live nearby, so they can get there on foot or by bike as often as possible. With little more than a pair of pruning shears and a sharp eye, they keep the ecosystem in balance. This way we prevent disease, promote growth and preserve the harmony in which everything comes together. The overarching B.
The B of balance.
To keep our planet livable, ecosystems must flourish — especially in the city. The 5 B’s of Blooming Buildings provide a practical guide to make that possible.
This is how we let the green ink stain of biodiversity spread ever further: from rooftops to inner courtyards, from business parks to university campuses. So that nature does not only bloom around the Groot Handelsgebouw, Radboud UMC, the UvA, shopping centre Zwolle Zuid or de Inktpot. But in every city, all over the world.