Future-proof renovation, with an eye for the past

Zeeburgerdijk apartments restored to former glory

On Zeeburgerdijk in Amsterdam East, Bouwbedrijf M.J. de Nijs en Zonen B.V. is putting the finishing touches to the radical renovation of 56 apartments and a GP's BOG space, commissioned by housing foundation Eigen Haard. Main objectives are (1) foundation repair, (2) increased living comfort, (3) lower energy bills and (4) restoring the original appearance of the front facade. In the context of circular construction, materials will be reused wherever possible....

"In a construction team with Eigen Haard, architect and consultants, we worked out the plans for the renovation and foundation repair," says Frank Klaver, business manager at Bouwbedrijf M.J. de Nijs en Zonen B.V. "All work is taking place in an uninhabited state. Immediately after moving out, we carried out an asbestos inventory and started demolition. The homes were stripped down to the shell. We then drove new piles, after which a foundation slab was used to take over the existing foundation. From here the homes will be rebuilt, restoring the front facade to its former glory."

During a renovation in the late 1980s, many old facade details had unfortunately been lost, he says. "Joint goal is to restore the original architectural design. Therefore, for example, the plastic window frames will be replaced with wood again, including the characteristic rods (subdivisions) and skylights. And even the front doors will regain the look of yesteryear. A feast of recognition for many residents who have lived on the Zeeburgerdijk for years! To ensure the correct detailing, project architect Hooyschuur architects & consultants even used an old wedding photo of one of these residents."

Thermally and acoustically improved

The front facade will be insulated from the inside. "At the rear, we will apply the insulation from the outside, after which the facades will be finished with stone strips," Klaver said. "Here, too, the window frames will be replaced." On the roof will be insulated roof panels and a new tiled roof. "Thanks to this work, the thermal insulation of the homes will be greatly improved. In addition, to raise the acoustic insulation to a higher level, a screed (floating screed) has been installed on the upper floors. This dampens impact sound. The apartments on the first floor have received a fire-resistant ceiling (fire separation) and all interior walls and ceilings are also being addressed. So the work is quite extensive."

Because many residents want to return to their homes after the work is completed, the work has been broken up into two phases. "This significantly reduced the number of exchange homes needed," says Klaver. "Moreover, this offered the opportunity to move on, which several tenants took advantage of. The supervisory team at Eigen Haard did a lot of good work in coordination here." Phase 1 is now complete; phase 2 will be completed in the near future.

Limited space, high traffic volume

The biggest challenge during the work is the limited space along the street. "Moreover, at the start of the work, the Piet Hein Tunnel went into maintenance, so Zeeburgerdijk is used as an access route," Klaver said. "This creates a considerable traffic pressure. To avoid blockages, we coordinated the planning and logistics in close consultation with the district council. For example, in phase 1 we chose to transport the demolition materials by water as much as possible. In phase 2, we had a little more space and were able to arrange this in the regular way (by road). In this way, we are always looking for optimizations."

Circular plumbing

What is special is that - in cooperation with Eigen Haard, the demolisher and the plumber, and in the context of circular construction - parts are reused wherever possible. "Our demolisher has a Re-Use department, where reusable products from construction are refurbished and cleaned for reuse," says Klaver. "We are taking advantage of this in this project as well. In the homes where new tenants are coming, we are applying circular sanitaryware (ceramics) as much as possible. From toilet bowls to sinks. The products we remove from the homes are also given a sustainable second life in other projects. In this way we jointly contribute to closing the material cycle, without compromising on quality or appearance. The things we reuse still look very good. We therefore have every confidence in this approach, which we are happy to carry through to subsequent projects."