Glaze for a rich look, specially developed for New Kralingen

Details play an important role in New Kralingen, as they create a rich look. For example, Dijkstra Friese Kleiwarenfabriek provides glazed accents and custom elements that cannot be found anywhere else. Special glazes were developed for them, after the colors determined by the architects.

Originally Dijkstra Friese Kleiwarenfabriek is a factory in coarse or building ceramics in traditional red, as well as braised and glazed. For a number of years, it has been part of the Bornego Group after a merger with other craft ceramic companies. The production portfolio of these various companies is housed at the Sneek location. Here tiles, paintings, restorations and specially developed glazes for architects are made. Projects commissioned by architects are glazed and in addition the employees do restoration work.

In New Kralingen, the glazes can be seen in house numbers, accents on bricks, water sprinklers, ornaments and nesting boxes, among other things. The factory also supplied special wall coverings. "The house numbers, water sprinklers, ornaments and nesting boxes are made by Fabrique Ceramique (Marlies Crooijmans) and then glazed by us. For this we have developed special glazes," says head of development and quality Maria Troncoso. The glaze was initially developed by Studio Mixtura (Daria Biryukova) and then adapted at the laboratory to make it ready for production.

All colors possible

"This is a waste glaze, a circular product," explains general manager Ted Lemmers. "Waste from other industries, such as iron shavings and glass pieces, we reprocess and these are mixed into the glaze." Transparent colors that refer to the natural environment, such as anthracite, ochre, aqua blue and blue green, were chosen by the architect. Says Troncoso, "With us, almost all colors are possible. We can custom develop from an architectural point of view. In addition, in New Kralingen we supply braised wall coverings, a part of traditional building ceramics."

No surprises

For the best results, there is close cooperation. Contact with Fabrique Ceramique, ERA Contour, Heijmans and Kooy Baksteencentrum is very smooth, Lemmers said. "In the beginning with so many parties it is really reinventing the wheel, now we know in time which parts are needed when and everything is well developed. This is a project where we no longer have any surprises and that is unique in the construction world."