A drastic matter, especially when inhabited

Insulate with ultra-thin pre-walls

In the Kruiskamp neighborhood, near downtown Amersfoort, 125 homes were subjected to an intensive renovation project. The main goals were sustainability and a healthy indoor climate. Homes with energy labels E, F or G were upgraded to A or A+, but that was not all. With the refreshed exterior facades, the monumental appearance of the homes was also restored to its former glory.

The renovation work was commissioned by housing corporation de Alliantie. To make the hundred-year-old homes in De Kruiskamp, Methorststraat, Van Assenraadstraat and Scheltussingel more sustainable, they were heavily insulated. The roof was replaced and the facades were repaired and fitted with interior pre-walls. Glass, turning parts, central heating boilers, loft ladders and meter boxes were replaced and any asbestos present was removed. All work was performed in occupied condition.

Resident communication

"It definitely took some organizational talent to get the latter done," says Wouter van Hooft, project manager of Rutges Vernieuwt. "Throughout the project, our resident supervisor was working full-time to plan for this. For example, residents had to half-empty their homes. When could they get this done? Did they want to use a rest home? Was it available at the desired time? Only when everything was right could we get to work."

Insulation

An important and radical part of the preservation effort was the installation of insulating pre-walls. Van Hooft: "Now it was not the case that all the houses were the same. In several houses we first had to remove applied double walls. Then we installed new, ultra-thin pre-walls everywhere (5 centimeters of insulation, 1.8 centimeters of drywall and 0.2 centimeters of plasterwork). These provide top insulation at a thickness of 6.5 centimeters."

Flora and fauna

Attention to the flora and fauna in the vicinity of projects is already well established for Rutges Vernieuwt. A year before the start of a project, it already talks with an ecologist who examines the vegetation and animal species at the upcoming work site. It was no different at Kruiskamp. Immediately after, nesting boxes were hung in the area, in this case to encourage house sparrows, swifts and bats to nest here. Holes under gutters were plugged. In Kruiskamp, the efforts were amply rewarded. "Forty cabinets are now inhabited by swifts and bats. For the house sparrow, we built the roof so that the sparrows can settle under the eaves."

Construction Crane

In carrying out the construction work, Rutges Vernieuwt had to deal with the narrow streets of Amersfoort. The replacement of dormers, glass and rotating parts required a crane, which had to stand in the middle of the street due to lack of space. "This also required understanding from the homeowners across the street. Transparent communication and explanations helped with this. And everyone got a lot in return. Kruiskamp has become a beautiful, monumental picture with homes of our time."