'The housing concept of today and tomorrow is fast, flexible and affordable'

Development contractor Roosdom Tijhuis realizes more than ever that the resident is the biggest success factor for any housing project to be realized. The question is no longer whether the customer is involved in the development and construction process, but how this is done. "The market demands customer-oriented housing construction that is translated quickly, flexibly and affordably into appealing results," believes Gert-Jan ten Brinke, Head of Plan Development at Roosdom Tijhuis. "We do this through the Identis concept."

Roosdom Tijhuis specialized as one of the first developing builders in the Netherlands in conceptual project-based housing construction. This experience is reflected in Identis: a detailed development and construction method for ground-level and stacked houses. Based on standardized processes and prefabricated construction techniques, but with anything but standard results. "With Identis, we work on customized solutions that fit the environment, neighborhood and housing needs of the target group," Ten Brinke says. "Features of Identis are resident-oriented development, optimized processes, design freedom, sustainability, short lead times, quick and good insight into costs, minimal energy costs and low maintenance costs. For the concept, Roosdom Tijhuis has been awarded Predicate Excellent Concept and Zero-in-the-meter label for the second year in a row."

Flexible switching within conceptual housing construction

At the base of Identis is a prefabricated shell construction system, including prefabricated exterior walls, floor and roof elements, Ten Brinke said. "The basis of the houses, including the hall and floor slab layouts, is fixed. But beyond that, flexible switching is possible. Residents can determine their own housing mass and layout, for example. And the appearance can also be customized. The exterior facades are standard masonry, which is applied on site. In our carpentry factory, the window frames, flat roofs and bay windows are made. The frames are transported painted and glazed to the concrete plant, where they are incorporated into the exterior walls. On site, all the shell elements are stacked like Lego blocks. So that we can quickly build up the shell and make it wind and watertight. As a result, less moisture enters the house and the finishing and masonry work can connect immediately."

Roosdom Tijhuis specialized as one of the first developing builders in the Netherlands in conceptual project-based housing construction.

For the kitchens and plumbing, residents can choose from a variety of packages, from standard to very luxurious. Installations are also offered in packages. "Basically, all homes must comply with the Building Code and function all-electric," Ten Brinke says. "To meet this, we work with heat pumps or connections to a collective heat network. Basically, every home will have an EPC of 0.4. We also have packages for energy-neutral or Zero-Meter homes, which include PV panels in addition to a sustainable generation system and high-quality insulation."

Transparent development and construction method, with no surprises

Identis tackles sequential construction, in which the architect, structural engineer, contractor and other stakeholders in construction play successive roles. "With Identis, we bring all disciplines together," says Ten Brinke. "Every project invariably starts with an extensive market research. For this, we create a project website, for example, on which potential residents can register and fill out a survey: who are you? What does your family composition look like? What kind of home would you like to live in? What rooms should be furnished? What styles appeal to you? And what is your budget? All data are entered into our Identis tool. This tool translates the basic principles into a Program of Requirements, which forms the basis of our urban development and design." All projects are worked out in 3D/BIM, he says. "In our VR room, residents can view their home virtually, including all options. This gives them optimal insight into their home and avoids unpleasant surprises upon completion."

Identis homes can be found, among others, in the Nijrees projects in Almelo, Zuidbroek in Apeldoorn, Kloosterveen in Assen, Vroondaal in The Hague, Aan de Kreek in Nieuw-Beijerland and the Stationskwartier in Kampen.