ERAflat Purmerhoek Capelle aan den IJssel | Capelse ERAflat becomes future-proof

ERAflats are a household name in Dutch housing construction. They were built in the 1960s and 1970s in response to the quantitative housing shortage and are still popular for their spacious, light-filled homes. Such is the case with the Purmerhoek. This immense flat in Capelle aan den IJssel is already the third ERA flat of housing corporation Havensteder to be future-proofed.

For the improvement maintenance of its ERAflats, Havensteder entered into an intensive cooperation with Team ERAflats, a joint venture of Smits Vastgoedzorg and ERA Contour. Remarkably, the latter originated 55 years ago from the original ERAflat builder. In the 1960s, contractor J.P. van Eesteren came up with the revolutionary 'Van Eesteren Rational Approach', or ERA for short. With this industrial construction method, a large amount of housing was realized in a very short time. In total, there are some 11,000 ERAflat homes. Half of these are in Rotterdam and the surrounding area. ERAflats are not unknown to Smits Vastgoedzorg either; it has been responsible for the maintenance of thousands of these homes for years. 

Specialized, permanent teams

Team ERAflats already took care of about a thousand ERAflat homes of various housing associations. Another thousand homes are now being tackled. "We are facing an enormous task," says Jurgen Weerdenburg, who together with Hans van der Krogt forms the management of Team ERAflats. "That task goes beyond carrying out these large-scale maintenance projects. We participate in the planning process from the beginning and are responsible for the design and resident supervision. For this we formed specialized, permanent teams of our own employees and chain partners. Together we gain a wealth of knowledge and experience, which we can apply on a one-to-one basis to current and new projects." Van der Krogt adds, "At the same time, this 'design & build-like' approach requires innovative commissioning practices. Havensteder is showing guts and confidence by taking on sizeable projects like the Purmerhoek and previously Lewis & Eliot in Rotterdam in such a way with us."

Durable, aesthetic and livable

The improvement maintenance focuses on sustainability, aesthetics and livability. Weerdenburg explains the improvements: "The sustainability label goes from E/F to A. We are installing double and three-layer glazing and insulating the end facades, walls and storerooms. In addition, we are making the heating system suitable for future connection to district heating." Other work involves asbestos remediation and a lot of painting. The homes will have new radiators, demand-controlled ventilation and an intercom system. Most homes will also receive a new kitchen, bathroom and toilet.

Safe, pleasant experience

Aesthetically, A3 Architects did a handsome job. The architect with whom Team ERAflats works intensively, left the original qualities of the apartment - the powerful interplay of lines, the concrete edges, the borders on the end façade and the white railings - intact. At the same time, A3 Architects ensured a safe, pleasant experience of the flat with the right interventions. For example, the elevator halls and stairwells will be refreshed. The plinths will get a new look, consisting of a grid of precast concrete and small LED strips. The gallery railings on the second floor will receive a transparent glass fence. The main entrances visually connect to this with tall, glass facades.

Minimal inconvenience

The work in the homes resembles a military operation. Team ERAflats makes every effort to complete each home within eleven days. Not only to keep progress in the work, but especially to keep the agreements with the residents. "We also make the necessary arrangements to minimize the inconvenience to the residents," Van der Krogt said. "We separate construction and resident routes as much as possible by working on the gallery side and not on the balcony side of the apartment. In the parking lot there is a specially equipped Bath House with toilet and shower facilities. In addition, there is a rest house, where residents can stay during the work."   

A specially equipped Bath House with toilet and shower facilities is located in the parking lot.

Residential Coach

Havensteder and Team ERAflats are paying a lot of attention to counseling the residents. An important role in this is played by the housing coach, who has been talking to the residents for several months prior to the work. There are consultations with the sounding board group and through surveys the residents' wishes are inventoried. The residents are also included in the planning as much as possible. The final plans are presented to them during information meetings. Weerdenburg: "From that moment on, the approval process begins. Using a model home, among other things, we involved the residents as much as possible in what they could expect from the improvement maintenance. In the end, this process went very well and quickly." Van der Krogt adds, "After consent followed the process of warm recordings and individual resident interviews. And during implementation, residents are of course also guided by our housing coach and implementers."

Pleasant atmosphere, good progress

"Working in an inhabited environment requires more than technical skills," Van der Krogt emphasizes. "Having an eye and attention for the resident is at least as important. The people of Team ERAflats have this in their genes." Weerdenburg: "And, it should also be said, we feel very welcome with the residents so far. We know that even though we take a lot of measures and communicate carefully, we still ask a lot from the residents. When we get to work in their homes, but also when we're working at their neighbors down the road." The good contact with residents, as well as the good mutual cooperation within Team ERAflats, pays off in a pleasant atmosphere and good progress. Van der Krogt and Weerdenburg therefore look forward with confidence to completion by the end of 2020.