Major maintenance, preservation and aesthetic beautification for 198 homes

Commissioned by Woonstichting Trivire, Van Wijnen is preparing 198 homes, spread over three blocks of flats, on the Blaauwweg in Dordrecht for the future. All the homes will be made more sustainable, receive major maintenance and undergo aesthetic embellishment. Where necessary, kitchens, bathrooms and toilets will also be replaced. It is an intensive process for the residents, who will remain in their homes during the work. They are therefore accompanied throughout the renovation process by resident supervisors from the main contractor. Upon completion of the work, living comfort will increase and the homes will be more energy efficient. This is only the first part of the overall project, which ultimately consists of 477 homes. Construction partners started in March 2021 and this first phase is expected to be fully completed by the end of this year.

The houses on the Blaauwweg and surroundings in Dordrecht have been there for many years and are in urgent need of a thorough renovation, making them more energy efficient and comfortable for the residents. "With this project we are continuing our long-standing relationship with Woonstichting Trivire. We are proud, as a Dordrecht-based developing builder, to contribute to a major renovation project in our municipality," stated Mike Luiten, business manager for renovation and transformation at Van Wijnen. "The total project includes 477 homes, of which we are taking care of 198 in a first phase. The homes are divided into 3 flats, which are being renovated one by one. At the beginning of March we started insulating the storerooms and installing the new heating pipes to distribute heat from the heat network. At the end of March, renovation work followed in the first homes. For example, everything on the facade and roof is being optimized. The roofing is being replaced, the concrete sanitized and the pointing repaired. The window frames, end walls and fencing will receive a new coat of paint, the galleries will be refurbished and the entrances to the flats will be renovated to the contemporary style."

A 'warm jacket' and more

The homes are also being preserved and given a new "warm coat," so to speak. The construction partners are insulating the front, rear and longitudinal facades, roofs and ceilings. The rotating parts in the facade will be replaced and insulating glass will be integrated throughout. After the work, these homes will be completely gas-free and connected to the heat grid. Thanks to this improvement in sustainability, the homes will be more comfortable and the residents will save on their energy bills. At the same time, main contractor Van Wijnen is carrying out the necessary major maintenance. Where technically necessary and if the residents so desire, kitchens, bathrooms and/or toilets will be replaced. In the complex, residents can visit a "test home" equipped with a new bathroom, kitchen and toilet, allowing them to really see what will happen in their own home.

Working in inhabited flats

"Subplan A is in full construction and subplan B for the remaining homes on this site is now in the development phase. While the work outside varies in lead time, the renovation in one home takes about 15 days," Luiten concluded. "In addition, residents will remain in their homes during the entire renovation. Of course, during that time they will temporarily not be able to use their homes as they are used to. This demands a lot from the residents, but also Trivire as client and all construction partners must pay attention to this with proper preparation and planning as well as good communication. Two of our own resident supervisors will take the residents along to assist them during the entire process."  

Ventilation grilles in the frame

The old existing glazing in the homes will be replaced with HR++ insulated glass with injury-resistant laminated glass where necessary. Ventilation grilles from DUCO will also be integrated in the process. 

DUCO offers a wide range of thermally broken aluminum ventilation grilles for the supply of fresh air. These self-regulating grilles can be integrated into plastic, wood and aluminum window frames. A simple way to provide living spaces with ventilation is to apply ventilation grilles in the window. In renovations such as in Dordrecht, ventilation grilles are usually integrated above the glass. The GlasMax 'ZR' sound-absorbing grid was chosen. The suspender grille is ideally suited for use in situations with low noise levels. For the exhaust of dirty air, installer Bevico is responsible for the installation of smart Intelli Air Valve control valves and CO2 room sensors.

Ventilation provides a healthy indoor environment

Since airtightness plays an essential role in making homes energy efficient, the indoor climate must also be addressed. Recently, residents have been attaching increasing importance to a properly functioning ventilation system. So Woonstichting Trivire and main contractor Van Wijnen are counting on the specialists of Bevico, part of PronkGroep, for the installation of the ventilation systems in the renovation and preservation of the houses on the Blaauwweg in Dordrecht.

"This is not our first assignment for Trivire. For example, last year we carried out a project in Zwijndrecht. For the homes in Dordrecht, we may be working with a different main contractor, but our task always remains the same, namely ensuring that the residents can enjoy healthy air," indicates project manager Gert Vis. "We are replacing all the existing roof fans and also providing ventilation in the annexes. A custom ventilation box will be installed in the kitchens, and we will install new valves in the bathrooms and toilets. The original holes that are no longer in use are carefully sealed. A new sensor in the living room continuously measures the CO2 level in the house and automatically controls the ventilation. This creates good air quality while reducing energy consumption." In any case, this is not an exceptional project for Bevico; the project teams carry out such installations somewhere in the Netherlands every day.

One reliable partner for all plumbing needs

Installatie Combinatie Dordrecht (ICD) is being engaged by main contractor Van Wijnen for all plumbing work in making the homes on the Blaauwweg more sustainable. 

"As an installation company, ICD Techniek focuses on central heating, ventilation, gas, sewerage and plumbing, while ICD Projects is a specialist in floor heating and cooling. And that from engineering to execution and including the supply of all materials. We have been working for Woonstichting Trivire for quite some time, for whom we carry out the daily maintenance and the mutations of the installations in the houses. In the past, we have also worked successfully with main contractor Van Wijnen," says director Jeffrey Hollander. "We are responsible for laying the new pipes for the supply and drainage of water in the homes. On the balconies and gallery, all the rainwater drains will be replaced."

The homes are all switching to district heating, and hot water is brought into the home through a delivery system. "In addition, we are involved in replacing the kitchens, bathrooms and toilets in the homes, where necessary and where the residents themselves want it. We are proud that we, as a Dordrecht firm, can cooperate on this project. The work itself is mundane, but the size of the project and the fact that the apartments will remain inhabited during the works do pose challenges. Moreover, they require good coordination with the main contractor and the other building partners as well as proper communication with the residents."

Construction Info

Client Housing foundation Trivire, Dordrecht
Main contractor Van Wijnen, Baarn