Evergreen plants up to five storeys high cover the buildings of Ferencváros' new housing estate 

Zsolt Hajnal and Péter Kendelényi set out to create a connection between nature and urban life in the heart of a metropolis when they designed Metrodom Green. In the rehabilitated Középső-Ferencváros district of Budapest, former industrial sites have been replaced in recent years by office buildings, cultural institutions and residential buildings. This cityscape is further enriched by Metrodom Green, built on the corner of Vágóhíd and Vaskapu streets.

One of the main features of the residential complex, which comprises 513 homes, is the green façade wall covering a total area of 7,000 square metres from the fifth to the tenth floor. The 36-metre-high plant wall was constructed in the first phase of the project using the PERI modular façade scaffolding system, which was used for the first time in Hungary.

The plants give the building facade a different colour for each season

The carefully selected plants planted on the facades of the housing estate not only serve an aesthetic function, but also significantly improve the microclimate and reduce air pollution. Studies carried out on similar projects have shown that by greening facades, the temperature of the exterior surface of buildings can be reduced by 15-20 degrees Celsius during the summer heatwave, and by up to 5-8 degrees Celsius in the interior.

The perennial runners on the façade of Metrodom Green will have different colours for each season, giving the complex a varied look and feel.

Stable and safe working at a height of 36 metres

The design of the façade's green wall was a particularly exciting task, as the building is 36 metres high. In addition, once the steel plant support panels were installed on the outside of the walls, there was no longer a point on the façade where the scaffolding could be used to plant the thousands of evergreens.

The solution was the use of the PERI engineers' designs and the EVOTOP modular facade scaffolding and UP Flex scaffolding system for the customer MTB Industrial Kft.. This project was the first in Hungary to use the PERI modular facade scaffolding system.

The design of anchor points and height is also a challenge

"Already in the bidding phase, we showed that we can cope with the challenges of height and anchorage points. We presented solutions and a modern scaffolding system that met the criteria. In the end, the customer chose the PERI," said Mark Kenessey.

The sales manager and project manager of the PERI Magyarország highlighted:

"For us, "Metrodom Green" is the first modular facade scaffolding project in Hungary. Its realization required a high level of technology and preparation, and I am proud that we were able to show the market how flexible we have a system and skilled professionals that can be adapted to the uniqueness of the projects."

To create the vertical green surface, MTB Industrial Kft. had the PERI engineers design a scaffolding system that allowed the construction team to work safely and stably at a height of 36 metres. A further challenge was that this had to be achieved without the possibility of fixing the scaffolding to the facade due to the steel lattice supporting the plants.

Due to the limited mooring possibilities, the engineers of PERI came up with the solution to mount the EVOTOP front rack directly to the PERI Up Flex space racks between the balconies. This created the necessary stability and security for the scaffolding and also provided access to the steel panels for the plant support up to 36 metres.

PERI international team united for project success

Product Manager Afif Elbaba from the primary production site of the PERI UP scaffolding technology in Günzburg, Bavaria, provided technical support for the design and the definition of the anchor points.

The relationship between PERI and the scaffolding manufacturer MTB Industrial Kft. was further deepened by a visit to the PERI scaffolding factory in Guenzburg, Germany, for the customer's experts. Here they were able to see how the scaffolding components are manufactured by robots, and how each finished part undergoes a rigorous quality control process before being delivered to the users.

On-site technical assistance provided to the installation team

The PERI has of course also provided on-site assistance and professional training to MTB Industrial's installation team to ensure that the new scaffolding systems are assembled to the same high professional standards as before.

The construction of the Metrodom Green was supported by 12 000 square metres of PERI UP facade and 19 000 cubic metres of modular scaffolding. The two systems are compatible with each other, making them a cost-effective and simple way to accommodate a wide range of geometric and load requirements.

Pre-assembled side protection makes the scaffolding system even safer

Before the scaffolding was built, the PERI engineers created detailed 3D models, which helped not only with the fixings, but also with determining exactly how much scaffolding was needed for the project. MTB Industrial Kft. engineers were able to take advantage of the EVOTOP not only for its load capacity and ease of installation, but also for its unique ability to have pre-assembled side protection.

In the construction of scaffolding, the handrails can be positioned from the lower, safe working level on all sides of the scaffolding. And the integrated anti-tilt protection of the walkways eliminates the need for extra fasteners.

Versatile scaffolding for sustainable architecture

The building has already been completed and both the client and the scaffolding company have praised the PERI systems solutions. Mark Kenessey, sales manager and project manager of PERI Magyarország, reported that the scaffolding's material quality and safety solutions received the most praise.
In addition, there was a lot of positive feedback about the digital support for the project. The well thought-out 3D designs facilitated the construction and design process, as they were adapted to the specific requirements of the project.

The Metrodom Green project is a great combination of sustainable architecture and robust, modern scaffolding technology. "Our scaffolding system was used for a total of 13 months and contributed significantly to an efficient construction process," says Mark Kenessey.