Bio-based renovation

Bovensmilde

How do you make a 1960s home future-proof without losing its character? In Bovensmilde, an innovative approach was chosen: renovation with bio-based materials. These are building materials based on renewable raw materials such as wood and paper. For the brick plinth, HJK Architects and Actium deliberately chose our Dinkelsteen®. The facing brick is sustainable in production and, thanks to its slim format, can be used on the existing foundation, even with thicker insulation.

Not enough room for traditional brickwork?

Dinkelsteen® enables renovation on existing foundations

‘Due to the thicker insulation, there was hardly any room for traditional brickwork on the existing foundation,‘ Jens Wind of HJK Architects explains. Dinkelsteen® offered the solution. ’Thanks to its narrow format, we were still able to create a brick plinth, so that the bio-based cladding above it stays dry and requires little maintenance. At the same time, the facing brick ties in with the 1960s architecture. This helps to anchor the homes in their surroundings, despite the visible renovation.’

‘Bio-based construction is all about sustainability, from materials to transport,’ Jens continues. ‘That’s why we deliberately chose a regional supplier: the shorter the distance, the lower the carbon emissions. What’s more, we already had good experiences with both Strating and Dinkelsteen® from a joint project in Veendam. That collaboration gave us the confidence to choose them again for these homes.’

Substainable down to the last detail

In collaboration with housing association Actium and Bouwgroep De Jong, a blend of tried-and-tested and innovative techniques was chosen. The ground floor is traditionally brick-built, while the upper storeys are constructed from prefabricated bio-based elements: pine wood with cellulose insulation and façade cladding made from pressed rice husks. A striking detail is that several vertical ribs in the façade accentuate the existing window openings. ‘They give rhythm and relief to the façade, especially on the end walls,’ says the architect. ‘And all this within a tight budget. We are quite proud of that.’

Dinkelsteen® plays a subtle but indispensable role in this project. The slim facing brick is approximately 30% narrower than a traditional Waal format facing brick. This means that fewer raw materials are needed per square metre of façade and more bricks can be transported at the same time. That translates into fewer transport movements and therefore lower carbon emissions.

At the same time, the compact format offers architects more design freedom. Architects can easily use this brick to create slim, detailed façade designs. This is ideal for renovation projects such as this one, where space is limited. ‘We expect this type of facing brick to be used more often in new construction in the future,’ says Jens. ‘Precisely because it reduces waste and offers flexibility.’

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Project details

Project: Renovation at Burgemeester Gerritstraat, Bovensmilde
Client: Actium
Architect: HJK Architects
Contractor: De Jong
Joint colour: Anthracite
Location: Bovensmilde

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