Sustainable expansion for Gray Silo in Deventer

The striking gray grain silo in the Deventer Havenkwartier was transformed in 2015 from a dilapidated landmark to a modern urban icon. The first floor, where in the past trucks were filled with grain, was transformed in 2017 into a modern office and studio for the interior designers, architects and structural engineers of Studio Groen+Schild. At the very top of the silo, a unique apartment has also been created with stunning views of the IJssel River, the rural surroundings and the historic city center. In addition to a future-proof design and the use of circular building materials, explicit attention was paid to energy efficiency. The Grey Silo functions all-electric, which also applies to the recent expansion. In both the existing silo and the new living/working units, WOLF Energiesystemen's air/water heat pumps and WTW ventilation units ensure a comfortable and healthy indoor climate.

At 51 meters tall, the 1961 Grey Silo is one of the iconic buildings in Deventer's skyline. The building is also of great cultural-historical value. Therefore, the municipality of Deventer went looking for buyers who wanted to refurbish the silo and preserve it for the city. They found these buyers in Anjo van den Brink and José van de Griendt. Under their inspired leadership, the Gray Silo was thoroughly renovated without sacrificing its industrial beauty. Historic elements still provide a special look and feel that, thanks in part to the systems of WOLF, goes hand in hand with modern living comfort.

Sustainable and smart

The choice of WOLF Energy Systems in this project was a logical one, according to Van den Brink. "The market has several system suppliers for heating, cooling and ventilation. We started discussions with a number of these, with WOLF standing out as a flexible organization with which you can communicate easily. The lines of communication with engineer/advisor sustainable total systems Maarten Ouwehand and his colleagues were short. Moreover, the specifications of the WOLF systems matched our requirements perfectly. And although WOLF was oriented more towards air than heating at the time, the heat pump could match alternative systems in the market in terms of specifications and performance. In fact, it outperformed most systems! Our ambition was to create a sustainable and smart building. The WOLF systems fit this perfectly. Thanks to the control app, climate conditions can easily be controlled remotely. This prevents energy waste."

The cooperation and techniques inspired such confidence that WOLF was chosen again during the recent expansion. "A friend of ours was looking for living space. In addition, Studio Groen+Schild was in need of expansion for the team at Groen&Schild Wonen, which focuses on building and remodeling homes. So we decided to add two self-contained and all-electric live/work units on the second floor level, which enhance the Grey Silo in both function and appearance." The expansion was completed in early February.

A WOLF BWL-1S split air/water heat pump, a WOLF CFL WTW unit with changeover battery and CO2 control, multiple mixing groups for room temperature control, and a LinkPro communication system for control via the WOLF app and portal were chosen in 2017 for the air conditioning of the architect's office. Also chosen for the apartment was a WOLF BWL-1S split air/water heat pump, in combination with a multilayer BSP-W1000 buffer tank with FWS-2-80 fresh water station, 6 TopSon solar collectors, CWL residential ventilation units, an excellent air distribution system, multiple mixing groups for room temperature control and a LinkHome communication system. "We also participate in solar and wind energy through Deventer Energie Coöperatie," Van den Brink said. "'Our' 36 solar panels are on the roof of a neighboring company building and we have participations in one of the wind turbines along the A1."

CHC heat pump center with monoblock heat pump

In 2019, in between the transformation and expansion of the Grey Silo, WOLF's newest heat pump was introduced: the CHA-Monoblock heat pump. "This heat pump is distinguished by very high efficiency, extremely quiet operation and simple installation," Ouwehand said. "Features that also convinced in this project." Van den Brink: "Because the Grey Silo operates all-electric, we benefit from an efficient system with minimal power consumption and start-up voltage. In addition, the CHA-Monoblock heat pump uses the environmentally friendly refrigerant R290 (GWP = 3). A nice bonus are the aesthetic choices made by WOLF in developing the heat pump. Thanks to the gray color scheme, the outdoor unit blends in better with the facade. We like the new system very much. In fact, the performance in noise and output is so good that we are considering replacing the 2017 system."

To ensure optimal functionality and flexibility, both live/work units are equipped with a heat pump in hot water version. "The CHA-Monoblock heat pump is part of our CHC heat pump center; a modular and compact indoor arrangement in which hot water storage tank, expansion vessel, pump and all control technology are cleverly integrated," said Ouwehand. "By installing two units instead of one, users can independently control their indoor climate. The heat pump center is paired with a WOLF CWL-2 balanced ventilation system with WTW and humidity sensor. Both systems can be controlled and operated via the control module as well as WOLF app. Thus we guarantee maximum comfort and ease of use in this area as well."