Papiliorama Butterfly House and Garden

Papiliorama was founded in the 1980s, being the very first butterfly garden in Europe at that time. It is located in Kerzers, Switzerland and is home to more than 1,000 butterflies flying freely in an impressive tropical garden. The foundation, under which the Papiliorama is functioning, aims to raise awareness of tropical flora and fauna worldwide.

The building, more than 20 years old, had a shabby, old leaking roof. Hence, it needed a complete rooflight replacement. Under the framework of the Papiliorama 2030 project, the foundation finally decided to modernise the whole complex, including the roof. They investigated their options and almost decided to cover the whole roof until they found the Vario solution, which was the perfect fit for their building. With the new rooflight, the owners aimed at creating a pleasant, peaceful atmosphere with lots of natural light. The construction also had to be lightweight and offer good thermal performance. However, the most challenging aspect of the renovation was its tight schedule.

Vario Therm Continuous Rooflights were chosen for this project to enhance energy efficiency and daylighting throughout the entire premises. For this special building, a new upstand was developed to be built on the existing one. As a result, the barrel vaults of Vario integrate smoothly into the roof structure, fulfil thermal requirements and allow for a direct connection with the sky. Moreover, unlike the old angular design, the wide vaults now have a calming effect, creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

Construction works had to be done during summer when the building was still in operation and open to the public. Therefore, a streamlined, effective installation and adherence to a tight schedule were also crucial to the success of the rooflight replacement. The renovation took several weeks, and the complex was open all the time - only parts of the building were closed temporarily.

Papiliorama now benefits from increased amount of daylight and fresh air, providing its occupants with a more pleasant indoor climate. Good insulation values of Vario rooflights will bring savings and thermal efficiency in the long run. Ventilation is now part of a wider concept: having a standardized, controlled system for each building unit. Building owners can now also remotely monitor building temperature day and night, which is essential for such habitats, giving them peace of mind.