The Hertogenpark residential block in Antwerp by architect Walter Bresseleers dates from the early 1980s. It comprises 16-storey flats of various types. The ground-floor plinth houses offices and two underground floors.

The façade is executed with a cladding in white marble in which recurrent pathologies are visible, essentially bent panels. Damage is also visible on the concrete terraces and parapets.

Inspection

We identified the defects through a random inspection of the façade: both of what is visible from the public space and from the terraces of a significant number of flats. The visual inspection was complemented by a review of the available plan and detail material so that implementation details could be determined.

Analysis

A literature review into the cause of the saucerised natural stone panels provided a risk analysis into possible subsequent damage. The options for thorough cleaning of the natural stone, and the effect this could have on saucer and non- saucer panels, were also investigated.

Besides the natural stone, attention was also paid to the concrete elements such as the parapet for the terraces, the on-site poured terrace floors and, to a lesser extent, the elastic joints between the natural stone elements. The damage patterns were mapped and analysed.

Renovation scenarios

Based on the analysis, different scenarios were worked out for a facade renovation of the building.

Finally, the technical principles of a preservation option were indicated, as were those for an energetic renovation of the various envelope components, with a view to avoiding thermal bridges.

For each of these options, principle details were outlined, a plan of action was provided for further elaboration, and a first rough estimate of the cost price for these works was provided.

A building audit is often a crucial sub-study within a feasibility study and sometimes for a maintenance recommendation.

Meet our specialist

From Team Renovation, Restoration & Maintenance (1)

ir. arch. Arno Van Hulle

Project architect
Maintenance consultant

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