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With the completion of the Postillion Hotel Breda-Biesbosch, the Hooipolder interchange will gain a distinctive new landmark. The aluminum composite cladding, featuring full-height facade panels that interact with the conceptual roofline, makes a significant contribution to this and is being fully installed by Welmecon B.V.
Welmecon B.V. supplies, installs, and engineers metal roofing and facade systems that make buildings both more sustainable and more attractive. From steel to aluminum and fully assembled facades: these custom solutions not only do justice to the architect’s design but also meet the tight deadlines of the contractor and client. The facade of the first Postillion Hotel in North Brabant is a prime example of this.
The ball started rolling for the Postillion Hotel through aluminum composite supplier COFAC Ede B.V., which asked Welmecon B.V. to submit a bid for the facade cladding, explains Robbert van Pienbroek, manager of Welmecon B.V. “In this project, we are handling the entire facade finishing. For example, we supply and install all the aluminum framing behind the window frames from our own fabrication shop, to which the window frame supplier attaches their frames. In addition, we provide the aluminum drip edges and aluminum substructure for the facade beams. We then have our aluminum composite cladding installed on top of this, which is manufactured by COFAC Ede B.V. Over 4,000 square meters of aluminum composite panels create a sleek facade finish, with 77 facade beams (51 of which are unique) ensuring a distinctive finishing touch.”
“Initially, the plan was to glue the aluminum composite in place,” explains Van Pienbroek. “However, on our recommendation, we switched to screw fasteners so that we wouldn’t be dependent on the outside temperature and humidity of the wooden substructure. This also allowed us to save on construction materials. Most of the screws are positioned behind the tree branches. We were also able to limit the screws to the sides and the top and bottom of the aluminum composite.”
The project is being carried out in phases, with the side wings (phases 1 and 3) and the central core (phase 2) being completed in succession. “For this central core, we are also installing the ceiling and facade cladding for the entrance,” says Van Pienbroek. “At the start of the project, our engineering team contributed valuable insights regarding the technical feasibility of the facade—and specifically regarding the installation of the facade beams. We also first created a mock-up of the soffit, window frame panels, and facade beams. Since this mock-up was primarily intended to check the critical connections, we slightly deviated from the design color for the facade beams because that color was in stock. However, the client and architect felt this color was an even better match than the initial proposals, so this color was retained for the final installation. Ultimately, the mock-up led to a design that was technically superior in terms of installation and a change in the color of the facade beams.”
The facade features four shades of gray, with window panels in RAL7022 (umbra gray), soffit edges in RAL7044 (silk gray), flat tree panels in RAL7016 (anthracite gray), and branches in RAL7006 (beige gray). “Slotted holes have been incorporated into the sharp corners of the branches to facilitate maintenance and allow dirt to easily flow out of the corners and down to the underside of the facade trees using a high-pressure washer. This ensures that the attractive appearance can be maintained for a long time.”
