The power of interior doors in circular housing construction

Dutch-made doors for SAWA in Rotterdam

A wooden residential tower in the heart of Rotterdam: it sounds like future music, but it is reality in the progressive project SAWA. This circular building not only symbolizes sustainable building, but also shows how cooperation in the building chain can make a difference. One of those cooperating parties is Svedex, the Dutch manufacturer of the finished interior door. André Pouwer of Svedex talks about the contribution to this unique project.

André has been working at Svedex since 2008, starting as account manager and now responsible for the Zeeland, Brabant, Limburg and South Holland region. One of his regular customers is ERA Contour. "We have been working with ERA Contour as a chain partner for a long time and we are therefore the regular party for interior doors. In addition to installation, we also handle the buyer selection process where residents can personalize their interior doors, frames, hinges, door handles and colors through the online Deurplus tool." 

The strength of Dutch quality

Svedex has been the specialist in lacquered style doors since 1954. From the factory in Varsseveld, the company annually produces some 700,000 lacquered doors, much of which ends up in Dutch new-build homes. "We are truly a Dutch family business with even our own 'Svedex road,'" Pouwer says. "Our strength lies in our expertise, the high level of customer commitment, our high-quality Svedex Superlak® and the wide range of products."

SAWA: timber construction with a mission

SAWA is not just any apartment building. It is Rotterdam's first wooden residential building: a pioneer in circular and nature-inclusive construction. "The building itself consists largely of wood, which is of course special in high-rise buildings. But also the philosophy behind it - CO2 reduction, biodiversity and healthy living - makes it special. That we were allowed to be part of that as a partner is really something to be proud of."

For Svedex, participating in SAWA also meant staying sharp on sustainability itself. Pouwer: "Sustainability is also in our products. For example, we are developing a circular door, in which an old door is reused as a raw material for a new one. We also limit packaging waste by recycling plastic and cardboard, and we use a pallet return system. We also notice that clients are increasingly asking for this."

Dealing cleverly with challenges

As with any construction project, SAWA faced challenges. "High-rise buildings always require smart logistics, especially in an inner-city environment like the Lloydpier," Pouwer explains. "But fortunately ERA Contour is good at that. Everything was tightly organized." What makes him extra proud is that Svedex was not only allowed to supply the interior doors, but also the window frames, to take care of the assembly and to help buyers furnish their homes completely to their wishes.
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A project to be proud of

SAWA shows that sustainable choices can go hand in hand with style, comfort and innovation. "Every collaboration has its own charm, but this project stands out," Pouwer concludes. "You just feel that you are contributing to something special."