Stepstone: a unique project at the Zuidas

In the prestigious Zuidas business district in Amsterdam stands the Stepstone project. Designed by LEVS Architects, this iconic building combines aesthetics with sustainability and functionality. The project is the result of a close collaboration between several parties, including DUCO, ZetaVent, Facédo and Buro Bouwfysica. Together they have provided innovative facade solutions that meet the high requirements of both the architect and the building physics consultant.

The building manages to find a harmony between affordable rental housing and high-quality apartments. Emphasizing sustainability and integration into the urban environment, the project stands out for its combination of aesthetics and functional innovations. A unique aspect of the design is the integration of nesting boxes for bats and swifts, thus contributing to the building's biodiversity.

Bringing together aesthetics and functionality

LEVS Architects designed a facade in which not only aesthetics but also technical requirements played a crucial role. In addition to meeting stringent requirements for daylighting, spray capacity and soundproofing, the façade also had to provide solutions for natural ventilation. DUCO and ZetaVent worked with Facédo to develop a ventilation system that met the specific requirements of the Stepstone project.

Acoustic ventilation

A key solution in this project was the application of sound attenuating wall grilles. For this purpose, DucoGrille Acoustic Panel 150 louvre grilles (DAP 150) were integrated into the façade, providing both ventilation and additional noise reduction of up to 11 dB. Thanks to their slim design, the DAP 150 modules could be incorporated perfectly into the façade profile. To give an aesthetic finish, DucoGrille Classic G 45HP louvers were also used. These are aluminum louvre grilles with a low resistance factor. The custom ventilation solution was seamlessly integrated into so-called "comfort boxes. Fresh air can flow in from outside through a grille on the outside of the façade and reaches the house through a window that can be opened. At the same time, the system exhausts polluted air from inside to outside. The ventilation solution contributes to a comfortable and healthy indoor climate without compromising the sleek facade design.

A smooth collaboration

"During the design process, we proposed replacing the grilles originally designed in wood with aluminum grilles," explains Maikel van Wijk of Facédo. "This change led to adjustments in the technical principles, but ZetaVent and DUCO together provided a solution that met the high demands of the architect and building physics consultants both aesthetically and functionally." The comfort boxes, including integrated Duco Acoustic Panel 150 and DucoGrille G 45HP diffusers, were factory assembled and built into concrete sandwich panels. The panels were then transported to the construction site and stacked modularly, without the use of scaffolding. This approach ensured fast and efficient construction, with minimal disruption on site.

The result: durability, speed and quality

Thanks to the innovative collaboration between DUCO, ZetaVent and Facédo, the Stepstone façade was realized quickly and efficiently. The integrated comfort boxes provide a sustainable and aesthetic solution that meets the high requirements of the architect and building physics consultants. Thanks to the clever combination of natural ventilation and soundproofing, the residents also enjoy a healthy and comfortable indoor climate. Stepstone is thus setting a new standard in facade solutions at the Zuidas. Thanks to the integration of sustainable technologies, the building is a future-proof example of innovation and quality.