The Facility
When we first brought Chief Architect Ernst von Meijenfeldt to see our new site, he saw the same thing we did: a beautiful undulating landscape. Thrilled with the location and knowing we wanted to retain the natural splendour of the land, Ernst began talking about the importance of the landscape and building working together. We couldn't have agreed more.
As part of the pre-design phase for this project, a site analysis was carried out to define what the new facility needed to be. It will be used to guide the architecture and create a framework for how a site specific, responsive, beautiful and sustainable architecture will emerge.
The goals
- For customers to have an emotional response to the architecture—to feel liberated by the space rather than bound by it
- To create a building that is as beautiful and as stimulating on the inside as it is on the outside
- To ensure that hill and house live together
The facility as a community
This new development will become home not only to Hole’s Greenhouse & Gardens (to be known as Hole’s Encore) but also to a community of like-minded businesses that share our belief in environmental sustainability, culture, community and enjoyment.
- From a young age, my brother and I were taught the importance of being part of the community—not just prospering from it. My parents believed the community was part of the family business and that to grow one you must nurture the other.
- Today, we’re taking that concept a step further and creating a community of businesses that share not only a vision, but also an accountability to the environment and future generations—a model where businesses share resources, technology and customers.
- By nurturing a philosophy of innovation and sustainability, we can begin to build relationships with all levels of government, with academic institutions and with the community. And it is those relationships that will continue our family’s guiding philosophy of contributing to the world.
The possibilities
LEED Construction Methods • Although LEDD certification is not possible, using the latest construction methods will allow our greenhouse and its partner businesses to reduce our carbon footprint.
Energy Savings • We intend to reduce energy demand by 20%, using the latest environmental controls and energy-saving systems.
Water Management • We will be minimizing the need for potable water for plants by capturing and storing rainwater.
Work for and with the Community • By providing facilities for special events, we will be able to support and increase our participation in the community. By approaching the idea of business and city as a community, we have dedicated private land for public use, thus allowing the continuation of a public trail system through private land. This reduces taxpayer’s costs and truly links the building to the surrounding lands.
Embrace Entertainment and Learning • Hole’s and its partners intend to highlight the behind-the-scenes portion of our businesses and allow them to be experienced by the general public.
