The Hyde Park neighborhood is growing, and facade technology is growing with it

Facade innovations contribute to un-Dutch area development

Hyde Park is being built in Hoofddorp: a new urban district with approximately 3,600 homes. Architect MVRDV's master plan gives each building block its own character, but together they form a single whole. For Intal, Hyde Park has become a testing ground: here, the company supplied complete aluminum facade solutions and made great strides in product development, process innovation, and organizational growth.

“The development of Hyde Park and that of Intal run parallel,” says Robbert de Nijs, head of the project department. “We have strengthened each other.” Intal’s RF series was used as the basis for Hyde Park. The profiling is the same throughout, as are the concealed fittings, but the use of color and finish differ per building block.

From Notting Hill to Westminster

Intal took the first step in the Notting Hill construction project (with KBM Group), where six buildings are situated around an inner courtyard. “That was our starting point within Hyde Park and contributed to the further development of our own profile system,” says De Nijs. “We supplied window frames and curtain walls and introduced our outward-opening window series and Harbour Fenster, which combines ventilation, noise reduction, and window cleaning.”  

According to Michel van den Berg, architectural consultant at Intal, early contact with developer Snippe was essential: “By getting involved at an early stage, we were able to contribute ideas about design choices. That collaboration based on trust continues to this day.”

Notting Hill was followed by Camden Town (with Dura Vermeer) and Knightsbridge (with Heddes Bouw). Camden Town is the most compact block, with the highest concentration of homes, which means the focus is on functionality. “We played with variations in the color of the window frames to match the diverse facades,” says De Nijs. Knightsbridge, prominently located on the boulevard, has a more luxurious look. “There you see bronze and gold accents, large windows, and spacious entrances. Knightsbridge was the driving force behind our fire-resistant window frames: we have expanded our certifications and can now supply heavier fire classes.”

The fourth sub-plan is Westminster, currently under construction. Here, Intal is once again the supplier for main contractor KBM. “For us, this is a logical next step,” says Nico van den Oever, Chief Executive of KBM Group. “At Notting Hill, we worked on this scale for the first time, a challenging project from which we learned a lot together with Intal. We are now continuing that open collaboration, in which you give each other space and look for solutions together, at Westminster.” De Nijs: “With four blocks, Intal now has almost half of all homes in Hyde Park in its portfolio.”

Collaborating and continuing to develop

Intal's role at Hyde Park goes beyond supplying aluminum facade elements. In each subplan, the system house works closely with architects, developers, and contractors to make designs feasible. “We check whether details are feasible and make adjustments where necessary,” says Van den Berg. “This prevents surprises and keeps costs under control without compromising on quality.” Van den Oever agrees: “We are both family businesses that believe in sustainable relationships,” he says. “Price is important, but trust and respect take you further. Of course, there are occasional frictions, but that's part of the process: no friction, no shine.”

This major project also led to internal growth at Intal. “In five years” time, we have matured as an organization,“ says De Nijs. ”We work more closely with suppliers on total solutions, such as prefabricated installation, so that fewer actions are required on the construction site. Hyde Park has taught us to approach projects not only technically, but also procedurally at Champions League level."

Showpiece and calling card

Hyde Park is Intal's showpiece and calling card. De Nijs concludes: “What is being built here is unprecedented in the Netherlands. We are proud that we are able to make such a significant contribution with our aluminum façade solutions and leave our mark on the appearance of a new urban district. Hyde Park and Intal are developing together, and that is perhaps the most beautiful thing about this project.”