Wolstad Piushaven
From forgotten city corner to non-conformist residential building. A combination of red brick and zinc cladding, the Wolstad project in Tilburg's Piushaven (Pius Harbour) is impossible to miss. Architect Walter van der Hamsvoord of DAT Architects designed a building that draws on industrial history while also being ready for the future. Fabricator Van Hoesel supplied Reynaers Aluminium windows and sliding systems for the perfect finishing touch.
Mix of materials
The idea for Wolstad originated in 2009, when the municipality and the developer organised a competition to find a new destination for this strategic location near the water. “At the time, it was really a forgotten part of Tilburg,” recalls architect Walter van der Hamsvoord. DAT architects’ plan to create a stacked housing complex that blends in with its surroundings, came out victorious. “We did not want to create a cold and generic apartment complex, but a building that fits in with the more rugged DNA of the harbour. No smooth stucco or standard façade, but robust red bricks and zinc cladding panels.”
The transition between the brick ground level and the metal superstructure is striking – and technically complex. "They are completely different materials. Differences in size, functionality, water drainage: everything has to fit just right” explains Van der Hamsvoord. The collaboration with contractor Heerkens van Bavel Bouw and fabricator Van Hoesel Aluminium was essential in this regard. “They took the design seriously. In some places, the tolerance was less than a centimetre. We spent a lot of time working out the details, collaborating with people who really understood our vision, which we do not take for granted.”
Architect Walter van der Hamsvoord of DAT Architects
Overcoming challenges
One of the most exciting moments during construction was the connection between the façade cladding and the joinery. Van der Hamsvoord opted for steel U-profiles to frame the balconies and large glass surfaces. Next, SlimLine 38 windows, ConceptPatio 130 Lift-Slide (LS) and ConceptPatio 155-LS sliding doors were subtly integrated. "The profiles had to be anchored to the supporting structure, but also made watertight before the façade was closed up. We opted for durable aluminium profiles from Reynaers Aluminium, which had to fit with millimetre precision in the layered façade. The window frames allow the glass and the view to speak for themselves. From floor to ceiling, you can look directly across the water.”
The project had to meet high standards in terms of statics, wind load and watertightness. We chose Reynaers Aluminium systems to handle these demands.
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Wilko Soyer, General Manager at Van Hoesel
Trust in the façade expert
Complex architecture requires expert building partners. Van Hoesel Aluminium has been working with Reynaers Aluminium for sixty years, and this partnership, in part, has been a main driver of the façade builder’s success. “Reynaers Aluminium is more than just a supplier. They actively contribute ideas, are involved in our projects, and we often bring each other into contact with developers or architects at an early stage” says Wilko Soyer, General Manager at Van Hoesel.
Wolstad is a key example of how this life-long partnership leads to incredible building projects, despite technical challenges. “It is not a large project in terms of size, but it was challenging. For instance, the façade required very large windows,” says Soyer, “and these had to be installed using mechanical tools and cranes. This meant we had to meet high standards in terms of statics, wind load and watertightness. In consultation with the architect, we selected the right Reynaers Aluminium profile systems that could handle these demands.”
Hold on to your vision
The project had its setbacks. After winning the competition in 2009, the banking crisis put the plan on hold for years. The question was raised to simplify the design, but van der Hamsvoord always resisted this. "We did not want to create a watered-down version of Wolstad. Thanks in part to the perseverance of the municipality and the client, the original vision remained intact. That vision – a building that honours and enhances its location – is still palpable and speaks to the imagination. Some people find it strange, while others are moved by the building. It is impossible to please everyone, and architecture is allowed to be controversial. I am proud we have built something that really stands out and yet belongs in Tilburg, with regards to scale, atmosphere, and experience. The building enriches the city.”
