Diverse villa park on Lake Leuker. Build better together

On the beautiful Leuker Lake in Well, Limburg, Vastbouw is building 148 vacation homes and 34 apartments in its own development. Together they form Marina Resort Leukermeer. Building in the flood plain of the Meuse and next to National Park De Maasduinen provides challenges that the company enjoys taking on with its partners.

Project Manager Gertjan Boeve: "The Marina Resort is a luxury villa park, where the use of building materials is very diverse. For example, we apply various types of hardwood, natural stone, zinc and various stony materials. We are also building many different types of houses, suitable for smaller to large parties. For example, we build 2- and 4-bed apartments, but also complete family houses, suitable for as many as 20 people." Vastbouw is responsible not only for building the houses, but also for the entire infrastructure and making the apartments and houses rental-ready.

Flexible in luxury construction

"I think our strength lies in cooperation and short lines of communication with our own development and the construction partners we know. How people think about vacation homes has changed. Houses are becoming more luxurious and we as a builder are very flexible in this. By doing the complete development ourselves, we have the flexibility needed to make this total project a success. From the construction of the houses to the total infrastructure. Together with our construction partners, we look for the best ways to realize the homes." They are essential, according to Boeve. "Otherwise you can't do work like this. We work mostly with regular subcontractors, but for this project also with new infra parties who have experience with a wetland environment like this."

Ecological facilities

Vastbouw is now 2.5 years into the project, which is special because of its location on the lake, which is connected to the Meuse River. As a result, the lake's water levels go along with the Meuse and with nature reserve De Maasduinen. "We have to take this into account, as well as everything that comes with it in terms of ecology. For the flora and fauna, such as badgers and beavers that can be found in this area, we have to make different ecological provisions. We are building in a flood plain of the Meuse River and thus have to deal with periods of high water. As a result, we cannot perform various works during certain periods."

Wide variety of housing types

The variation in the types of homes at Marina Resort is very wide. "The houses and apartments are on waterfront slopes, mostly on raised soil. Because of this, we need very different construction depths of foundations. This varies per location/per house. We therefore use different types of pile foundations: wood, bored piles and precast concrete piles." Most of the homes are located on the water and have their own decking and private terraces. "Last summer there was very high water and then it was confirmed that we maintain a safe height for construction." Boeve continues: "Especially the structural wood construction and the variety of types of homes makes it a challenge to build on the water. We made the lower sections - which are submerged at high water - out of Basralocus piles with the terrace and roof structure made of Douglas wood above them. It's a very nice challenge both structurally and in execution."     

Building better together

No home is exactly the same. Different types of cladding are applied to the different house types, ranging from natural stone and wood to masonry. The roofing can be zinc, tile or PVC. The first houses and apartments will be completed this summer. "We are very satisfied because we have a wonderful construction team across the board. The cooperation with all parties is very good, otherwise you couldn't make a job like this. Together you build better!"