Senior apartment undergoes metamorphosis for the benefit of residents

100% support for sustainability project

The Van Speijkflat in Hilversum, a senior citizen complex with 54 apartments owned by housing corporation Dudok Wonen, was thoroughly renovated and made more sustainable. HP Architects drew the plans and main contractor VIOS Bouw, together with its co-makers, was responsible for the realization. The residents were involved in the project from design to completion via a sounding board group and unanimously supported the sustainability plans. Work started after the 2021 construction period and the senior apartment was recently completed.

In recent years, the neighborhood around the Van Speijkflat was thoroughly renovated. As a result, the care apartment complex from the 1980s - converted by Dudok Wonen into a senior apartment building - no longer really fit in with the neighborhood. Moreover, the building was outdated and there were regular complaints from residents about cold feet, drafts and high energy bills. So in 2019, the housing corporation decided to thoroughly renovate and make the building more sustainable with the goal of improving comfort for seniors. "Three contractors were asked to submit a price offer and a Plan of Action, based on a sketch design by HP Architects and an energy concept," states project manager Jasper Versteeg of VIOS Bouw. "With a clear vision around the sustainability and renovation of apartments in occupied condition as well as with our ideas around the possible topping up of the building with 1 or 2 floors, we were able to convince the clients."   

Sustainability and a new look

VIOS Bouw was awarded the contract in February. Together with its consultants and co-makers, the client and the architect, the plans were further developed in a construction team. The topping was considered a separate project, but it was already taken into account within the complete sustainability concept. "After the 2021 construction period, we started the work. Facades, walls and floors were better insulated and new aluminum windows with high-efficiency glazing were integrated everywhere. The old radiators in the apartments were replaced with innovative systems that combine heating and ventilation. Additional exhaust points for polluted air were provided in the kitchen and bathroom, and a CO2 sensor determines the necessary ventilation flow rate at any time. Where necessary, and only if the residents also wanted it themselves, kitchens and bathrooms were also renovated," explains the project manager. "The residents remained in their homes during the entire process. We did promise them that we would keep the inconvenience to a minimum and that they would be warm in winter. So before the Christmas period, the renovation work had to be completed and we managed to do that. In a final phase until the end of March 2022, the entrance, stairwells, corridors and balconies received their facelift and the turquoise window frames and yellow brickwork from the 1980s gave way to a contemporary look."

Resident always central

All of this work was carried out in the interests of the residents, all seniors between the ages of 55 and 96, many of whom have difficulty walking. Through their sounding board group, the 54 households were involved in every phase of the project by Dudok Housing and VIOS Construction. "We informed the residents in advance and their input was used to further optimize the original designs. All residents unanimously supported the plans, clearly more than the 70% required by law," Versteeg concludes. "We also listened to them continuously during the work and made adjustments, where necessary, to further improve comfort and further reduce inconvenience. We are pleased to hear that they have come to regard us as a friend during the project."