Sustainability
Efforts from the beginning
To future children
～ Challenge to Sustainable Development ～
01
Coexistence of ecology and economy
Another name for Huis Ten Bosch, which means "house in the forest" in Dutch, is "the city born from the sea." The land where Huis Ten Bosch now stands was an abandoned landfill. Therefore, the first project before the opening of business was aimed at regenerating this land, restoring the natural state as it should be, and "sustainable development" for the future.
Considering harmony with the surrounding nature first, 400,000 trees have been planted, and the coastline has been replaced with ecologically friendly masonry revetments. We created a cycle to purify and return to nature with our advanced sewage treatment equipment.
The concept at the time of its opening was "the coexistence of ecology and economy." A town where the concept of ecology, which protects the richness of the natural environment, and the economy, which refers to the economic richness of human beings, grow together. We want to be a “town that ticks away a thousand years” like the ancient cities in Europe and Japan. For that reason, we practiced "sustainable development" and made efforts to preserve the wonderful culture and natural environment.
Investment amount and specifications of Huis Ten Bosch (at the time of opening)
■ Facility Location / Huis Ten Huis Ten Bosch Town, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture
■Total development area/152 hectares
■Environmental improvement civil engineering work started/October 1988
■ Construction work started / February 1990
■Completion of construction/January 1992
■ Open/March 25, 1992
■ Total investment amount/220.4 billion yen
■ Design and management / Nihon Sekkei
■ Cooperation / Dutch Government
02
To the city of water
This advanced sewage treatment facility was built to protect the calm waters of Omura Bay.
A large amount of wastewater (sewage) is generated from the facility, which is visited by many people. Since the facility opened, the wastewater generated on-site has been purified in-house and not only returned to nature, but also used as "grey water" that does not come into contact with humans, such as for flushing toilets and watering plants.
Approximately 3,400 tons of sewage collects at the sewage treatment plant, which has been operating without a break for over 30 years. Solids are separated from the sewage, the dirt is broken down by bacteria, and the water is purified with chemicals and passed through filters that remove viruses, resulting in "grey water," a clear, colorless water that is comparable to tap water. The 2,700 tons of grey water produced is sent back to Huis Ten Bosch, where it is used for various purposes, such as cleaning the town and irrigating the land. It is then sent back to the sewer system to begin the purification cycle.
Huis Ten Bosch Bosch does not discharge sewage or grey water into the canal, making it a "town where water continues to circulate."
03
Utility tunnel
Underground tunnels called "common utility tunnels" deliver water, electricity, gas, communications, etc. to the city. The total length is 3,200m. At its widest point, it is 2.5m high and 6m wide, so large that two sightseeing buses are lined up side by side.
Cooling, heating, water supply and sewage, gray water, electricity, gas, communications, etc. are stored in an orderly manner, there are no utility poles or wires, and there are few outdoor air conditioning units, supporting the creation of a beautiful city.
There is no need to dig up the ground for maintenance, and even in the event of a disaster, the problem area can be approached relatively safely. Public utility tunnels not only protect the aesthetics of the city, but also serve as disaster preparedness.
04
cogeneration system
(Heat and power supply system)
Electricity is essential to Huis Ten Bosch as a city.
Since the beginning of our business, we have been using a cogeneration system to generate 30% of the electricity needed for the entire Huis Ten Bosch complex.
A cogeneration system is an energy-efficient system that uses waste heat from power generation to run a boiler to produce hot water for water heaters and steam for heating.
05
Natural stone seawall
The water's edge, where the land and water meet, is considered to be the richest and most delicate part for both the "biological environment" of both land and water. The shallow depth of the water here is blessed with sunlight and a supply of oxygen, forming a rich biological society.
Concrete revetments cut off this cycle of life.
At Huis Ten Bosch, including the part that was a concrete seawall in the days of the industrial park, it was rebuilt using construction methods that respect this nature, which the Netherlands continues to stubbornly protect.
06
forest regeneration
At the stage of Huis Ten Bosch Project, we gave first priority to harmony with the surrounding nature, and planted 400,000 trees on this land that are suited to the climate. An evergreen forest was created around Huis Ten Bosch to maintain a comfortable life, while deciduous trees were planted along the streets of the park to create a variety of expressions depending on the season.
We have been working on forests as the starting point of a recycling-oriented society, where a variety of life lives and that the natural ecosystem that produces oxygen is produced.