an award-winning, beautiful building where people enjoy working and visiting was an unbelievable challenge.” The some 40,000 plants that cover the facade are watered with recycled rainwater – one of numerous sustainability measures that gained the building a BREEAM rating of 'Excellent'. The high thermal performance of the walls coupled with the orientation of windows helps to reduce the need for artificial temperature control and lighting. Automatic sunshades and a computer-controlled heating, cooling and lighting system adjust the interior environment to the conditions when needed, while metal panels in the glazing system provide natural ventilation. At the foot of the building, four seasonally themed gardens with indigenous planting create a new piece of public space for the area. “Thanks to the green facade it is a very nice transition from the old residential buildings to the green hill,” notes Tauchman. These gardens offer a moment of respite during the working day, from which to enjoy the greenery that grows across the facades and Zizkov Hill. Project Spotlight: AFI Karlin Butterfly 161
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