Belgian construction group Deforche delivers the world’s largest tropical greenhouse at Pairi Daiza
"This is a milestone — in terms of scale, complexity, and ambition.”
Edenya is the name of Pairi Daiza’s new botanical greenhouse. With a surface of no less than 40,000 m² and a height of 25 metres, Edenya is the largest tropical greenhouse in the world.
It will become a new home for plants and a wide variety of animals. This impressive greenhouse construction was built by Deforche Construction Group from Izegem and took 3.5 years to complete.
"What we have achieved here is unprecedented. The final result is impressive and demonstrates our technical expertise. This will also open new doors for us,” says CEO Jeroen De Cock.
Pairi Daiza has opened a new tropical world featuring waterfalls, rivers and a jungle filled with rare animals. Beyond the rich fauna and flora, the structure itself stands out thanks to its remarkable architecture.
“Visitors will be truly amazed. Edenya brings design, functionality, climate, people and animals together in harmony within one gigantic building,” says Jeroen De Cock of Deforche Construction Group.
The Belgian construction group was entrusted with the development of Edenya. “And that was no straightforward task. On the one hand, we had to respect the architectural vision. On the other, we faced major technical challenges in terms of safety, sustainability, light quality and comfort.”
Engineering excellence
The project ultimately took three and a half years to complete. Throughout this period, Forzon — the division within Deforche Construction Group specialising in glass roof structures — translated the architectural design into a fully executable construction process. “This involved comprehensive engineering, including structural load calculations, the optimisation of glass, steel and aluminium configurations, and the development of technical solutions for a number of highly complex construction details,” explains Jeroen De Cock. Prefabrication and on-site assembly were also coordinated by Forzon, ensuring continuous alignment between design and execution.
For the installation of Edenya, techniques from both football stadium construction and greenhouse engineering were combined. “To accelerate the process, we opted for lightweight structural components and large prefabricated modules. Each module spans approximately 2,500 m² of roof surface. They were first assembled at ground level and then lifted individually to a height of 20 metres, in just ten minutes per module,” says project manager Stijn Cappon. This approach offered major advantages. “It allowed the roof structure and the underlying zones to be constructed in parallel, independent of weather conditions, enabling the works to progress efficiently.”
The glass used for Edenya was also specifically designed for this project. “The glazed roof plays a vital role: it provides thermal insulation while precisely regulating sunlight and UV radiation,” Stijn Cappon continues. This UV regulation is essential for the wellbeing of both plants and animals. “Standard glazing does not offer sufficient filtration and could potentially harm the flora and fauna. Our objective was to replicate natural conditions as faithfully as possible and ensure animal comfort. For that reason, the glass roof was designed for easy maintenance, allowing robotic cleaning without disturbing the animals.”
With the future in mind
The glass is cradle-to-cradle certified, and the structure itself — composed of steel and aluminium — is largely recyclable. “We built Edenya according to circular principles. Not only because this was required of us, but because these principles are embedded in our DNA. After all, we are building for generations who will experience nature here in a truly unique way,” says Jeroen De Cock. In this respect, the construction company has clearly succeeded.
The modular design and lightweight structure ensure efficient use of materials, while ventilation, water recovery and energy management systems optimise overall consumption. “The result is a paradise, with minimal impact on the environment.”
That paradise was unveiled to the general public for the first time beginning of February. “We hope that every visitor not only appreciates the natural beauty, but also takes a moment to reflect on the structure itself. Years of intensive work have gone into this project, and we hope that this iconic achievement will further strengthen our company’s position — well beyond our national borders,” concludes Jeroen De Cock.
EDENYA IN FIGURES
- With a footprint of 40,000 m² and a height of 25 metres, Edenya is the largest tropical greenhouse in the world.
- The roof structure consists of 16 modules, each spanning 2,500 m². These were first assembled at ground level and then lifted piece by piece to twenty metres, with each lift taking just ten minutes.
- The construction of the modules on the ground took three weeks, while cladding and finishing at 20 metres height required two and a half months per module.
- Each façade took approximately two months to build.
- The total construction period for the project was three and a half years.
- The project uses high-quality, sustainable materials, including cradle-to-cradle certified glass. Steel can be recycled up to 90%, aluminium up to 95%.
- The structure is supported by “tree” columns, with spans of 48 metres and 51 metres.
- The frame is three-dimensional, with a gold-lacquered finish.
- The roof is covered with insulated, sun-shading, UV-regulating safety glass (8 mm / 15 mm / 55.2).
- The walls are clad in insulated, sun-shading safety glass (8 mm / 18 mm / 5 mm).
- Insulated gutters, 1.2 metres wide, were installed, along with custom-built sliding smoke vents measuring seven by six metres.
ABOUT DEFORCHE CONSTRUCTION GROUP
Deforche Construction Group is a Belgian family-owned company that has been a leader in the construction of innovative glass, steel, and aluminium structures since 1932. With nearly a century of expertise, we combine craftsmanship, technological knowledge, and a forward-looking vision.
Deforche Construction Group delivers botanical and tropical greenhouses, research and innovation centres, garden centres, (large-scale) greenhouse structures, glass roofs and atria, as well as photovoltaic and energy projects worldwide.
Within our own knowledge and innovation centre, we bring together experience and research. We continuously monitor the latest developments in greenhouse and construction technology and translate them into high-performance, sustainable, and future-proof solutions.
Deforche Construction Group operates through 5 specialised group companies, each with a clear focus and attention to the end user: Hedafor (www.hedafor.com), Forzon (www.forzon.com), Thermoflor (www.thermoflor.com), Climafor (www.climafor.com), and Feror (www.feror.eu).
MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS
For more information, visit www.deforcheconstructiongroup.com or contact Kathy Decroix at kdecroix@deforchegroup.com or +32 51 69 19 22.
Royalty-free photos and high-resolution images of Edenya are also available upon request.
You can also read more at: https://www.forzon.com/en/realisations/pairi-daiza-edenya-tropical-glasshouse
