Building more beautiful, smarter and better

VIANEN from Montfoort is the address for wooden window frames and facade elements with which clients can build without problems and behind which residents can live carefree. "Since our establishment in 1961, we have only one goal: to make well thought-out products," says director Oene Wassenaar. "We are constantly looking for ways to make products and processes even smarter, more beautiful and better. Our modular building ambition fits in seamlessly with this."

In high-rise projects, there are high requirements regarding insulation, wind and water tightness. "VIANEN responds to this with high-quality wooden façade elements, which give wind, moisture and drafts no chance," Wassenaar says. "For the engineering of these prefabricated elements, in recent years we have depended on how architects design their buildings. What we are seeing now, however, is that more and more parties are reversing the process. They are very deliberately incorporating their suppliers' specifications into the modeling. The result is building designs that are already suitable in advance for the participating partners. In addition, opportunities for modular and circular construction arise. Designing buildings in uniform grid sizes and detachable, for example, takes reuse to an even higher level in the future."

Efficient and detachable

"Together with our chain partners, we are investigating how the various building components can be linked as efficiently and detachably as possible," Wassenaar says. "Here we pay explicit attention to sustainability, construction speed and construction costs. But also to the building and housing plan. Especially high-rise projects in inner-city areas must meet strict requirements. How many square meters of land area do you have at your disposal? How high can you build? And how many rental and owner-occupied units can be fitted into this building volume? But also: what does the ideal house plan look like in 2022? And what kind of modules are needed for this?"

Excellent facade

"A building has a number of crucial components, such as the foundation, the shell and the facade," Wassenaar emphasizes. "In the future, we want to fully assume the role of facade builder so that at least this building component excels. Both in appearance and performance. In addition to the design and production of prefab wooden façade elements, we can already integrate all frames, windows, glass facades and other elements at our factory in Montfoort. Because we work under the best climate and working conditions and can optimally tune processes, tolerances become smaller and more correct. For example, our modular façade elements have fixed height and width dimensions, which are exactly matched to the frames, windows and glass facades they will be fitted with. This ensures optimum insulating capacity, air tightness and water tightness."

One point of contact and one warranty party

Following production, VIANEN can also provide on-site assembly, so that clients are assured of a single point of contact and a single guarantee party for the entire facade. Because the market visibly appreciates this, we want to expand this service further in the coming period. To this end, we are actively working with partner companies who can and dare take on this responsibility together with us."

Tried and approved

In order to take prefab construction to the very highest level, VIANEN wants to bring the most important partners to the table even earlier. Preferably even before the plan and price formation, so that design and construction can take place not for the lowest but for the best price. "The facade design is worked out by our engineers in Tekla/BIM as standard," says Wassenaar. "We are currently filling our BIM library with structures and elements that have been tested and approved. This will eventually give us access to all modular building blocks, for an optimally performing facade. Clients can see at a glance whether the module dimensions match their design. But also whether the conceived facade solution matches VIANEN's design specifications and performance requirements. For example, with regard to insulation values, daylight penetration and wind and water tightness. Detailed bills of materials and prices can be generated directly from the model. Via the viewers, the models can also be viewed in detail, allowing insight and efficiency to come together perfectly."

Leaving the beaten path

Once approved, VIANEN's entire production line is controlled from the BIM model, eliminating communication noise. "Then the complete facade elements are transported to the construction site just-in-time and assembled air and watertight. This is the perfect answer to the current construction and housing needs, namely: creating affordable homes that meet all comfort and energy requirements and that can also be built quickly and detachable. This not only sounds promising, but it is, provided that clients are willing to leave the beaten track. VIANEN is happy to show them the (new) way."