Gallery flats in Zwolle get second life

Renovating 280 apartments in occupied condition is a challenge. Especially when these apartments are located in two gallery flats that are really in need of a large-scale refurbishment. But at least as big is the challenge of communicating the upcoming work with the residents, who together account for 68 nationalities.

The Louis Armstrong and Elvis Presley gallery apartments are located in Zwolle's Holtenbroek neighborhood. Like their peers, they are now over fifty years old and in need of renovation. To give the flats a modern look, the garage boxes on the first floor will be replaced by transparent storage areas. Eleven new apartments will be built in the place of the former storerooms. The entrance will be bright, twice as large and accessible from the front and back of the building.

Division into three phases

Mateboer Bouw divides the remaining work into three phases. During phase 1, it builds the new storerooms and insulates the roof. In phase 2, it replaces the kitchens and toilets and removes all pipes and cables from the plumbing shaft. In the 3rd phase, she renovates bathrooms, central heating, mechanical ventilation and all facade elements. And finally, she replaces the entrances and balconies, builds the new homes and installs the solar panels.

Good communication

"Renovation projects of this scale stand or fall with good communication," project manager Gerard Harderwijk knows from experience. "The subcontractors make the schedule together, but once it is in place, everyone has to stick to it. Even the residents have to cooperate. Emptying the pipe shaft requires the cooperation of all residents."

Two full-time resident supervisors

"To inform residents, two resident facilitators are working full-time to explain things in Dutch, English and Arabic," continued Harderwijk. "In the process, many residents have problems. These range from money worries, collecting rage and prostitution to aggression and abuse. As a result, many residents are fearful and suspicious. To still gain their trust, we often have to have been inside five times before we are allowed to start work."

Virtual reality goggles

A clever way to break down language barriers, TU Delft came up with. It developed Virtual Reality goggles that give residents insight into the nuisance. "In it they see, for example, how we will soon be chipping tiles and what noise this makes." The VR glasses also help with the choices of colors and materials for the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. The resident immediately sees whether the selected materials match.

Better sense of security

So far, Harderwijk is pleased with the progress. "At the Louis Armstrong flat we are in phase 2; at the Elvis Presley flat we are currently building the new storerooms. The work is connecting nicely, so the train is running smoothly. Already you can see how the colors yellow and green, the transparency of the storerooms and the enlarged entrances improve the sense of security. And I am proud of our people. A lot of communication skills are required within renovation projects, and they have mastered them excellently."

Installations renew at rapid pace

Renewing the installations in the Louis Armstrong & Elvis Presley apartment is in the hands of Breman Techniek. It is replacing the installations in the bathrooms, toilets and kitchens. In a second phase, it will also take care of the central heating installations. 

Given the large scale of the project, Breman Techniek first made a trial run. In this way it was certain that the planning made was actually feasible and improvements could still be made - where possible. As a result, the work is now running smoothly and on schedule.

"The fast pace is the biggest challenge," says Dirk Bredewout, project manager for Breman Techniek. "We renovate two homes per day. This does happen in two phases. During the first phase, we take care of the shafts, toilets and kitchens. During the second phase, we tackle the bathrooms and central heating systems."

Equally challenging is the collaboration with the other partners on the project. "That applies to all renovation projects of this size," Bredewout says. "You have to keep the train moving together. That requires good cooperation, but we are now in the fourth strang and so far everything is going according to plan."

Construction Info

Client SWZ, Zwolle
Architect KHV Architects, Emmeloord
Constructor Alferink van Schieveen, Zwolle
Executive Mateboer Construction, Kampen
Installations Breman Techniek, Genemuiden
Construction €25 million
Construction period February 2021 - May 2023