Company History
The idea to establish a company called Biotop is born. Four students at the University of Agriculture and a businessman develop the first company concept. The name “Biotop” in itself says much about the content and objectives: Biotop implies living space. The first advertising slogan was “We turn gardens into living spaces”. In this concern Biotop is different from conventional gardening firms. The goal is to show that an ecologically oriented company can also make profits.
Lease of a 2.5 hectare piece of property and founding of Biotop. Due to lack of capital, work begins with used machinery and leased equipment. Altogether a staff of five commences construction of natural pond systems.
The idea for natural swimming pools is born, and the first experiments begin.
The first planted roofs are constructed as a maintenance-free, heat-conserving and low-cost alternative to gravel-covered roofs.
The idea and development of the “Natural Pool” is awarded the Austrian Prize for Environmental Protection. The prize is important for Biotop’s reputation and helps awaken the interest of the media. All major Austrian newspapers report on the Natural Pool.
Construction of the first plant sewage system as an ecological alternative to technical sewage plants. This field of work also has a major impact on Biotop.
Innovation award by the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce for further development of the Natural Pool. The pilot project “Bio Container Klosterneuburg” is started by Biotop. It is the first bio-compost project in Austria. It initially starts by equipping 1,000 households with biocontainers. The biogenic waste is composted at the company. In the meantime the market for natural pools is established – Biotop is market leader.
The head-start in know-how in building natural pools is expanded through intensive research. The
Natural Pool has become the Biotop trademark. The other fields of business are also being expanded.
The first public Natural Pool is built. Thus, an ecologically sensible alternative to traditional outdoor pools in the rural area has been created. The 100th Natural Pool is completed. Expansion is possible through Biotop’s own modern equipment and well-developed infrastructure. The compost project is enlarged to 3,000 households – a study by the TU in Vienna shows that it has the best results of all compost set-ups in Austria. Biotop’s staff has grown to 17, it wins 42nd place among 2,000 contestants at the Gewinn Young Entrepreneurs Contest.
The idea of the Natural Pool hits neighbouring countries. The first ones are built in Bavaria, interest is raised in Baden-Würtemberg and Switzerland. Biotop gets a planning contract for a recreational park in Gaschurn/Vorarlberg. The central element of the “Eco-Park Hochmontafon” will be two natural pools with a total water surface of 5,800 m². Natural pools are also gradually being designed and built for hotels. Through the growing number of queries from abroad, the idea of selling Natural Pool know-how to partner companies begins to take shape. Biotop’s Natural Pool Service is introduced to improve customer care and to service the pools.
Know-how export begins. Through license agreements the first four partner companies build Natural Pools in Bavaria. There are now 25 employees, 250 Natural Pools have been built. Despite the negative economic situation revenues continue to rise. The research fund of Austrian industry grants Biotop financial support for a project to study the water quality in Natural Pools. Two additional communities give Biotop contracts to plan public Natural Pools.
The partner network is enlarged to 12 licensees. The Natural Pool is gaining popularity in Germany and Switzerland. The brandname Natural Pool (“Swimming-Teich”) obtains an international copyright. In Hermagor/Carinthia a further public Natural Pool is opened under the name “Natural Pool Radnig”. It finds far-reaching attention; numerous additional communities express interest in Natural Pools.
Biotop celebrates its 10th anniversary. The 400th Natural Pool is finished. The research fund of Austrian industry supports another research project. The development of the Natural Pool, as well as the business fields planted roofs and plant sewage systems continue to expand. 5 additional license partners strengthen the partner network. The Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce awards Biotop the 1995 Innovation Certificate. A planning contract for a Natural Pool in the South Tyrol is the reward for activities in this field.
A new building system is introduced for the Natural Pool. To separate the swimming and regeneration areas an intricate prefabricated system is put into place. The corner elements made of recycling plastic are patented and subsequently nominated for the “Eco Design Prize 96”. In Kötschach- Mauthen/Carinthia a Natural Pool is built by Biotop for the community, as is another public Natural Pool in the community of Sand in Tauferstal/South Tyrol. In northern Germany additional license partners have joined the network, which now comprises 22 partner companies. The crowning finale to the year is the construction of a Natural Pool in Chile. Biotop planned this pool from its Austrian headquarters and directed construction in Chile.
In January an amendment to the Swimming Hygiene Law was passed by the National Assembly.
A milestone for Biotop, as it legitimizes publicly-used Natural Pools. Through this, legal uncertainty on the part of the approving authorities evaporates and all the cases that have been dragging on are suddenly approved. This results in a real boom in contracts for public Natural Pools. In 1997 three community pools are built, among them the one in Gaschurn, which is the largest Natural Pool with approximately 5,800 m² water surface. Development is also dramatic with the Natural Pool licensed partners, who build over 90 Natural Pools in 1997, twice as many as in the previous year. The new prefabricated corner elements, all-around pump storage area and dock modules have been well-accepted by the partner companies.
Within Biotop some restructuring takes place. Peter Petrich takes over the shares of the other three partners. Jörg Fricke takes the sector “planted rooftops” into his new company. The production of water plants ends and Biotop concentrates activities on its core competency “planning and construction of pools”. The partner network is expanded with four additional license partners and stretches to the North Sea. In the spring a publicly-used Natural Pool is built in Schwoich/ Tyrol. However, the climax of the year is the opening of the Mountain Beach Recreational Park in Gaschurn. In a dazzling celebration the park is presented to the public under the motto “The Magic of the Elements”.
The partner network in Germany affords country-wide coverage. Through eight additional licensees, interested parties throughout Germany can be ideally serviced. Products from Natural Pool research to reduce the growth of algae in stationary waters are now included for the first time.
The 1000th Natural Pool is built in cooperation with the partner companies in Germany and Switzerland. This pool is raffled off under the readers of a gardening magazine in Germany, and the winner gives it to a home for the handicapped in Boll/ Baden Württemberg. The Biotop Carbonator makes a break-through on the market. Demand by pool owners plagued by algae is twice as high as expected. Biotop celebrates its 15th anniversary on July 1st. The first Austrian license partner is located in Vorarlberg.
Queries from Italy, France, Holland, Belgium and England encourage Biotop to expand its partnership network to these countries. In cooperation with the municipality of Vienna a pilot project is initiated to improve the quality of the "Old Danube". The tendency to return to natural swimming has also arrived at the municipal level, which is confirmed by Biotop's receiving three new commissions for community pools in Austria. Planning begins for a new company building in Weidling. The Viennese architect Reinberg wins the invitation to tender for the building. Besides 55 private natural pools, Biotop builds three public pools in Tyrol, Styria and Burgenland. For the first time, the "Day of the Natural Pool" is celebrated European-wide. In Germany, Switzerland and Austria the day is celebrated "jointly" at 25 different places. In autumn the first natural pool in southern England is built by the first English licensee. The (North American) press takes up the topic of Biotop's Natural Pools, triggering numerous queries from Canada and the USA. But prior to this the first partner from the Netherlands joins the group of Biotop's license partners.
The first French partner signs a license contract with Biotop. The start of construction of the new building is set for June, to be finished by March 2003. Biotop has its first talks with interested parties in the USA in the landscaping field, to prepare possible expansion for the year 2004/2005.
At the beginning of the season Biotop relocates to its new headquarters. The opening is celebrated at the third “Biotop Open Day”. More than 500 visitors attend. The building conceived as a low-energy structure and the new display pond with 1,000 sqm surface are the main points of interest. Mountain Beach Gaschurn, built by Biotop, and the community Gaschurn are awarded the Austrian National Prize for Tourism.
The long line of awards is extended with a nomination for the Austrian National Prize for Architecture. Numerous architects and interested parties visit Biotop. The company headquarters becomes an insider tip for photo shooting and private events. Aside from this, Biotop and its partner companies build 200 additional natural pools, including three public facilities.
Besides building natural pools, the business segment "plant waste water system" is reactivated. A sample system can be viewed at Biotop headquarters. Biotop's 20th anniversary is celebrated within the scope of "Biotop Open Day". Relaunch of the Natural Pool logo in cooperation with the advertising agency "Bluetango".
The business segment "distance planning" comes to life when the first Natural Pool is built in India. Due to continued high interest in Canada and the USA Biotop intensifies its search for partners in these countries.
Extension of the partner network to Italy, Great Britain and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Biotop Natural Pool network increases by four partners. For the first time, a master license is granted in Britain to enable the partner network to grow faster. With the Curved Sieve Skimmer and the Submerged Pump House, Biotop launches two groundbreaking innovations.
With New Zealand and Spain and a master licence holder
in France, the expansion of the partner network continues.
A design contract for a natural pool on Nantucket
Island allows Biotop to gain a foothold in the United
States. The implementation of this projected pool
by Biotop is planned for the year 2009.
With the “Biotop Swimming Pool”, a natural
pool without a regeneration zone, Biotop causes a
stir in the sector and generates keen interest with
garden owners. The market launch is planned for the
year 2009.
With partner companies in both Greece and Israel Biotop
is continuing to expand its partnership network. The
nomination of the “Biotop Swimming Pool“
for the renowned Austrian “Neptun Wasserpreis
2009“ in the category “Water Protection”
confirms that this innovation has also received recognition
by experts. Marketing for the “Biotop Swimming
Pool” is launched with a major marketing campaign.
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