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A new residential building with 54 sustainable rental apartments is being constructed on Hertoglaan in Vught. The project, part of the revitalization of the Hart van de Baarzen, combines standard residential construction with a unique living arrangement: eighteen lifetime-ready apartments are designated for blind and visually impaired adults who require additional support. For Van Hees Elektrotechniek & ICT, it is precisely this combination that makes the project technically interesting. How do you design and implement the technical systems for a building that brings together independent living, care, safety, and future-proofing? We asked project manager Paul Kot.
“You’re creating a single building, but with different user groups. That requires looking beyond a standard systems design,” says Kot. “The technology must be tailored to the residents and their daily use. The starting point isn’t the system itself, but the user.”
Commissioned by the Charlotte van Beuningen Housing Foundation, Huybregts Relou is constructing the new residential building at the corner of Hertoglaan and Van Sasse van Ysseltstraat. All rental apartments will be highly insulated and equipped with sustainable systems such as heat pumps, underfloor heating, and underfloor cooling. Thanks in part to solar panels, the units will achieve an A+++ energy rating.
In residential construction, electrical engineering has long been approached primarily from the perspective of a standard installation concept. The meter box, switches, lighting, and connection points formed the basis. According to Kot, that approach is changing more and more. “Buildings are becoming more technically complex, but at the same time, the controls for residents must remain simple and intuitive. That requires more attention up front. Who lives here? How is a space used? And which technical choices support the resident?”
At Hertoglaan, that question takes on extra significance. For residents with visual impairments, the way the technology is implemented and operated is of great importance. “As an installer, you have to avoid automatically falling back on what you’ve always done. A solution that comes naturally to one resident may not at all for another. That’s why it’s important to understand who you’re building for.” According to Kot, that doesn’t mean the technology has to become more complicated. “Good technology is, in fact, as unobtrusive as possible. It should function intuitively and support residents in their daily lives. The technology must adapt to the user, not the other way around.”
In a project that combines housing, healthcare, and sustainability, an integrated approach is essential. Van Hees works closely with Huybregts Relou and the other construction partners to coordinate all technical decisions early on. “An electrical contractor cannot focus solely on their own system. Many technical decisions affect multiple disciplines. The placement of systems affects the architectural design; sustainable energy systems require coordination between electrical and mechanical systems; and safety features must be tailored to the building’s intended use.”
According to Kot, the key lies in discussing these points of intersection early on. “The best solutions emerge when different disciplines collaborate to consider the building as a whole and put the user first.” He believes that a large part of a project’s quality is determined before construction begins. “On the construction site, you want clarity. Installers need to know what they’re supposed to build and why certain choices were made. The better the preparation and engineering, the smoother the construction process.”
Whereas electricity used to be needed mainly for lighting and electrical outlets, it now forms the basis for an increasing number of building functions. “Electricity is playing an increasingly central role in buildings. Heating, cooling, power generation, and building management systems are becoming increasingly dependent on a reliable electrical infrastructure.” According to Kot, this requires forward thinking. “You don’t just look at the power needed today; you also have to consider concurrency, distribution, and how systems are configured. Buildings and their uses are constantly changing. What we implement today must remain logical and manageable in the future as well.” The energy transition is thus broadening the role of the electrical contractor. “Our profession is increasingly moving away from focusing on the cable and toward addressing what a building actually needs. Engineering and knowledge of the building as a whole are becoming increasingly important.”
Although the technical systems are largely hidden from view, they determine the safety, independence, and comfort of residents on a daily basis. “We approach a building as if it were a project, but for residents, it becomes their home. They must be able to rely on systems that operate safely, comfortably, and intuitively.” That is why Van Hees takes an integrated approach to engineering, construction, and specialized expertise. “The technology is becoming more complex, but the solution must actually become simpler for the user. After all, we don’t build for a drawing or a set of specifications, but for people. If our technology helps residents live comfortably, safely, and as independently as possible, then we’ve done our job well.”
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We are van Hees. As an installation company we offer solutions in the field of Electrical Engineering & ICT. From the start of a project, the design phase to the construction and realization of the entire project and beyond, we remain involved. The Service and Maintenance Department continues to ensure flawless operation of all installations by [...]
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