12/11/2024

BULA, a sustainable urban village of the future

BULA, a sustainable urban village of the future

BULA is a new urban project located near the center of Bruges and the Tillegembos. This project focuses on creating a future-proof urban village where sustainability, livability and connectedness are central.

Through a smart combination of environmentally friendly energy sources, innovative technologies and green infrastructure, BULA offers a future-oriented urban development solution with a strong focus on sustainability.

Sustainable energy supply

The BULA project stands out with its fossil-free energy solutions and sustainable infrastructure. The site features an internal heat grid that will be powered by geothermal energy and a large solar PV installation. This will provide a completely self-sufficient and environmentally friendly energy supply, eliminating the need for fossil fuels.

The project will also take into account electric (fast) charging and shared cars. Furthermore, waste management will be thoughtfully addressed and attention will be paid to efficient water management, including rainwater recovery.

BULA is not only a technical achievement, but also a visually appealing living environment. With spacious green areas, wadis, roof gardens and an urban park, it will offer residents an environment where nature and urban life blend harmoniously. These green elements not only provide aesthetics, but will also contribute to the ecological value and microclimate of the site.

Large-scale geothermal drilling

One of the most impressive aspects of the BULA project is the scale of the geothermal drilling, which is currently underway. A total of 180 meters of drilling will be carried out in the first phase to a depth of 150 meters, accounting for 27 kilometers of geothermal drilling. Phase two will add an additional 70 150m drillings, giving a total depth of 37.5km. This size makes the geothermal installation one of the largest in Flanders.

A special feature of this process is the order of execution: the borings are carried out from the current ground level before the excavation for the basement starts. This approach optimizes the planning of the structural work and ensures efficient progress of the construction.

geothermal drilling

Ingenium's contribution to the project

Ingenium developed the project's energy concept, which provides a fundamental basis for the sustainable ambitions of the urban village. Through detailed analyses and a future-oriented vision, Ingenium designed an energy concept that is completely fossil-free, including geothermal energy and a large PV installation. Our advice and strategic approach ensured that the project meets the highest standards of energy efficiency and sustainability.

In addition to preparing the energy concept, Ingenium was responsible for working out the competition files, which was essential for the selection of suitable partners and suppliers that fit within the sustainable vision of the project. Currently, Ingenium is supervising the implementation process of the project, focusing on quality control and realizing the energy performance established in the initial design. Our involvement and advice guarantee that the BULA project not only meets the planned sustainability goals, but will also be a reference for future urban developments.

Innovation and sustainability hand in hand

By bringing together renewable energy, smart mobility solutions and innovative technologies, the project creates an environment that not only considers ecological impact, but also promotes social cohesion and livability.

BULA sets the tone for future-proof urban villages and shows how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand in the development of a modern, eco-friendly and close-knit community.

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