Architect: Bureau Bouwtechniek
Client: VME Plantin en Moretuslei 155
Timing: 2018 -
Status: In execution
Advisors: BB (EPB & safety coordination)
The apartment block on the corner of Plantin en Moretuslei and Bouwensstraat dates from the late 1960s. The existing façade consists of concrete panels suspended from a concrete supporting structure, with a limited cavity.
An initial assessment by Bureau Bouwtechniek had already revealed various signs of damage as early as 2017, including damaged joints, localised corrosion and concrete damage to the façade and terraces. Furthermore, a number of original construction details resulted in inadequate drainage of infiltrating water, allowing moisture to damage the concrete structure.
What began as a request to repair the damage therefore evolved into a broader renovation strategy. Rather than simply repairing the affected parts, the building envelope is being upgraded to improve energy efficiency, and the façade and terraces are being comprehensively addressed. The building’s existing volume and articulation will be retained.
The current renovation builds on an earlier damage analysis and renovation strategy by Bureau Bouwtechniek. A conscious decision was made to look beyond localised concrete repairs and to link the technical defects to a sustainable, energy-efficient improvement of the entire building envelope.
The façade renovation is approached as a single integrated project in which damage repair, energy efficiency improvements, architecture and technical feasibility come together.
In particular, the detailing requires special attention. The connections between the façade panels and the windows and terraces, the substructure and fixing of the panels, the joints, insulation and the coordination with structural stability and energy performance requirements are all developed as a single, integrated whole.
