I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A G A Z I N E F O R B R I C K A R C H I T E C T U R E R E N O VAT I O N

#17
03 2015
www.architectum.com
02 | EDITORIAL | IMPRINT

CHRISTOF DOMENIG
CEO CLAY BUILDING MATERIALS EUROPE
32

EDITORIAL

DEAR READERS,
Trends not only exist in the fashion world but also in the construction business. For examp-
le the renovation and refurbishment of existing buildings as well as urban densification are
currently important topics. On the one hand, more and more people are attracted to the
cities. This leads to an increasing demand for inner-city housing and living space. Adapta-
tions and extensions of buildings as well as attic conversions are a good alternative to new
buildings when new living areas have to be provided and buildings or even whole districts
need to be upgraded. On the other hand, refurbishments help reduce energy consumption
and, more importantly, preserve our cultural heritage. An essential aspect for the identity of
a city or region is the use of clay building materials. Only think of the wonderful roof land­
scapes in Southern Europe or the brick façades in Northern Europe. Clay blocks, bricks
and roof tiles are not only high-performance building materials, they are also infinitely versa-
tile and adapt to every building project – and: they are simply beautiful. Convince yourself!

In this architectum issue you will find a number of inspiring projects – from the moderni­
sation of single-family homes to the refurbishment of historic buildings, which vividly
­illustrate the range of possibilities and solutions bricks, clay blocks, roof tiles and clay
pavers ­provide.

Enjoy the read,

Christof Domenig

IMPRINT
EDITOR Wienerberger AG, 1100 Wien PUBLISHING HOUSE Österreichischer Wirtschaftsverlag GmbH, 1120 Wien WIENERBERGER AG
CHIEF EDITORSHIP Rita Kremsner (Wienerberger AG) CO-OPERATION Nancy Christaens (BE), Marion Kuzmany (AT), CLAY BUILDING MATERIALS EUROPE
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PHOTOGRAPHY Jens Krüger, Gerhard Zwickert, Anja Castens (8 – 9), Ruud Peijnenburg (12 – 13), Antje Forejt (14 – 15), Wienerbergstraße 11
Christian Senti (16 – 17), Christoph Große (20 – 21), Liesbet Goetschalckx (22 – 23), Sven-Erik Tornow (26 – 27) T +43 (1) 601 92-10551
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 CONTENTS | 03

06

28

22 08 16

S INGLE -FAM ILY H IS T ORIC

04 NEWS
16 CREATING MORE SPACE
WITH FINESSE
Façade | Zurich | Switzerland
28 HISTORIC ­JEWEL
Roof | Schloss Ebreichsdorf | Austria

06 MATIJA BEVK
Interview
18 RENOVATION MEANS LOOKING AHEAD
Façade | Ottignies | Belgium 32 ARCHITECTURE TO HONOUR
THE PAST AND FIT THE PRESENT
Roof | Chideok Memorial Chapel |
M U LT I- FA MILY United Kingdom

08 RESTORATION OF A LISTED 20 CHARACTERFUL REPLACEMENT

Wall | Berlin | Germany
BUILDING
Wall / Façade | Brandenburg | Germany
P UBLIC US E
34 A PALACE REBORN
Roof | Palais de Justice de Laon | France

10 LOOKING SMARTER
Façade | Strassbourg | France 22 A PLACE TO MEET AND READ
Roof / Façade | Nooderwijk | Belgium

12 FACELIFT ON THE FLY

Roof / Façade | Lisse | The Netherlands
24 FROM THE URBAN FRINGE
TO THE CENTRE OF THE EAST
Place | Amsterdam | The Netherlands

14 SCHWERIN‘S GEM
Wall | Schwerin | Germany 26 EARLY MODERN ­ARCHITECTURE
Roof | Dresden | Germany
04 | NEWS | NEW PRODUCTS

KEYMER – IN SAFE HANDS!

Keymer, the 16th century hand made roof tile brand is now part
of the Wienerberger group. Based at its new home at the Ewhurst
factory, the brand is in safe hands as its traditional techniques and
heritage are being maintained. SUSTAINABLE INSULATION WITH
­P OROTON-WDF
To celebrate its new place within the company, the highly regarded
The Poroton-WDF thermal insulation system is a solid brick wall
Keymer Specification Guide has been redesigned and updated. The
filled with Perlit, a natural, mineral fibre-free insulating material. It was
76-page guide, which can be ordered free-of-charge is a compilation
­specifically developed by the Schlagmann Company, a joint venture
and celebration of Keymer’s history, products and installation tech-
of Wienerberger, for energy-related refurbishments of existing
niques. Copies are available by emailing [email protected].
buildings and is suited for both internal and external insulation.
Poroton-WDF is safe and simple to process, provides a high level
www.wienerberger.co.uk
of fire protection, is very durable, and hardly prone to damages.
Additionally, the s­ ystem fulfils all aspects related to a building-
biologically sensible and ecologically sound thermal insulation.

www.poroton-wdf.de

SAINT-VINCENT,
A NEW FAMILY MEMBER OF ALÉONARD
Emblematic tiling from Wienerberger France: since 1872 special­
izing in manufacturing traditional roof tiles, Aléonard is a household
name for roof renovations of ­historical monuments and exceptio-
nal mansion. As a first step into the high-end Aléonard brand, the
Saint-Vincent tile now offers the possibility to highlight all traditional
roof styles. With a thickness of 12 mm, a curved or straight shape,
dimensions of 16 x 24 and 16 x 27 cm, Saint-Vincent also comes in 5
colours. This tile is based on the Aléonard expertise, with an irregular
and jagged edge, ancient and rustic texture to suit regional identities.
Roof accessories are available for a perfect finishing.

www.wienerberger.fr
 NEWS | 05

COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS ASSERTS:

START WITH THE BUILDING ENVELOPE
How do we make existing buildings more The results speak for themselves. Energy-rela-
energy-efficient and limit both climate change ted renovations of the building envelope as a
and the utility bills of the inhabitants? With that first step are a perfect choice as we seek to
question in mind, Wienerberger set up a test balance gains in energy efficiency with costs.
site in Spiere (Belgium). The extensive renova- In the test case, the net energy consumption
tion of this detached home dating from around was reduced from 410 to 79 kWh/m², an im-
1900 has now been completed. In collabora- provement of about 80 %, whereas the cost of
tion with a number of experts one of the first renovating and insulating the roof and façade,
studies was conducted to determine the effect including new joinery, remained limited to 40 %
of these measures on the net energy demand of the total renovation costs.
and comfort.
www.wienerberger.be
06 | MATIJA BEVK

ARCHITECTURE BENEFITS
FROM COMPLEXITIES
Bevk Perovic architects, a young and striving architectural office based in Ljubljana, was founded
by Matija Bevk and Vasa J. Perovic in 1997. The office has been awarded numerous prizes, among
them the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award for young aspiring architects in 2007. Their portfolio
covers projects of various scales from large housing projects and public buildings to individual
­houses across Europe. In the following interview, Matija Bevk, founding partner and jury member of
the 2016 Brick Award, explains the challenges and essentials of urban infill architecture.

You have planned and realized many urban projects in different nothing else than simply because the new programmes are certainly
countries in recent years. What are from your point of view the es- different from the ones in the past, and our times are different than those
sentials for successful urban infill housing? before, with all implications – from programmatic to technical and phi-
Like with any other project, the architectural idea itself is a crucial losophical…
element, after that there comes the issue of architectural articulation. It
is not only colours and textures; those are the final design elements of And the challenges?
architecture and, in my mind, it would be wrong to resort to those visual/ All the so-called challenges – or problems, if you want – are simul-
tactile issues straight away. With urban infill the main question is how taneously potentials and inspiration. Limitations and conditions are in
does the new building react to its immediate surroundings, how does reality a framework for the work of the architect. If we are honest, maybe
it use (or abuse) the existing conditions for its own articulation, what it is most difficult to imagine a building on an open plot of land, without
interior spatial concept can be established and how does it establish constraints – financial or other – and with ‘carte blanche’ from the client.
a dialogue with the surrounding city structure. Urban infill projects are I think the architect (or architecture) benefits from complexities and limi-
always an opportunity to research and redefine the relations between tations – if you don’t run away from them, but embrace and challenge
the user, the building and the city. This redefinition is necessary – if for them.
 INTERVIEW | 07

The building is not only ‘itself’ – a building – but an opportunity to renovate, recon-
struct and revive a piece of the city, by intensifying the contact between the building
and the city structure around it.

How can renovation/refurbishment contribute to infill develop- old build­ings have been built for different uses – as warehouses, work-
ments? Do town planners and architects nowadays consider the shops, factories – and it is this relative ‘openness’ that lets us use them
“old” housing stock? for new programmes today, and brick is a key element allowing for this.
Old housing stock is in a much better position today than it was
before – we don’t demolish as much as we used to. It turned out that What are your current urban infill projects?
projects that ‘embrace’ the existing are much more easily accepted. We are currently working (together with B-architecten) on an urban
That’s maybe because we like to have a link to the past, or because the infill project for the Erasmus University in Brussels, located right in the
projects somehow gain more internal complexity, which is a prerequisite city centre in a former indus­trial area. In this refurbishment and exten-
for a successful development of urban life. sion project, we’re looking for an interaction between the new and old
buildings, between the old and new programmes and between the new
Old buildings are often brick buildings. Is the quality of the building complex and the city structure. The building is an opportunity to recon-
structure and the building material an important factor? struct and revive a piece of the city, by intensifying the contact between
Of course it is an important factor, the architectural qualities stem- the building and the city structure around it. We’re executing the project
ming from the material ‘definition’ of a building are important – for senti­ in brick, but in a different colour and appearance as against the existing
mental as well as fundamental, structural reasons. Old buildings are of- fabric – we’re aiming at a strong ‘presence’ and contrast, rather than
ten built with equally useful and beautiful structural solutions. A lot of the ‘blending’ in with the existing.
08 | WALL / FAÇADE | BRANDENBURG | GERMANY

RESTORATION OF A LISTED BUILDING

The historic Burgmühle [castle mill] with a granary in Brandenburg an der Havel can look back on
700 years of tradition. In 2002, it was almost completely destroyed by fire and collapsed in places.
In the course of the renovation, 64 high-quality condominiums and two commercial units in a prime
waterside location were created.

B
ernd Jansen, managing director of Jansen Immobilien GmbH, was extruded bricks from Wienerberger: Schleswig ruby red and Heide red
responsible for the restoration project. “The strict regulations for shaded.
listed buildings required the preservation of the character of the in- For the inner layer 365 mm clay blocks were used. This all-ceramic
dustrial monument on the Dominsel, the Cathedral Island.” The investor clay block comes closest to the existing brickwork in terms of sustain­
decided in favour of systems supplier Wienerberger, whose high-quality ability characteristics. Due to the high standards of sound insulation re-
building materials are suited for conservation projects and also satis- quired for the internal walls, sound-insulating blocks were used as well
fy the requirements for multi-storey residential construction in terms of as clay block composite floors, which are suitable for properties of this
soundproofing, thermal insulation and fire protection. kind. For the gables, the client decided on thermal insulation blocks filled
with mineral wool. Another advantage of this block is that it saves space
TOWN CENTRE CHARM WITH RIVER VIEW Because large parts due to its slimmer dimensions. The monolithic integrated construction
of the façade survived the fire, it did not require complete rebuilding. following the reconstruction guarantees the owners a good investment,
When complementing the existing brickwork, it was important from a a healthy room climate and all the benefits of sustainable construction.
building physics point of view to select a similar ceramic building materi- Now restored to a high standard, the Burgmühle has become a fas-
al to avoid a mixed construction method. Damaged facing bricks in the cinating architectural eye-catcher. A building where grain was once pro-
façade were cut out by hand and replaced with colour-matched smooth cessed has become a place for modern forms of living and working.
 MULTI-FAMILY | 09

INFO
PROJECT
Restoration of the Burgmühle in
­Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany

ARCHITECT
S&P Sahlmann Planungsgesellschaft
für Bauwesen, Potsdam

CLIENT
Projektentwicklung Jansen Immobili-
en, Brandenburg an der Havel

FACING BRICKS
Terca Schleswig ruby red and Heide
red shaded (both smooth)

CLAY BLOCKS
Poroton-T8-MW 24,0; Poroton-T12;
sound insulating block MZ 5 DF-1,8
and MZ 6 DF-1,8; clay block floors
13+6 and 18+6
010 | FAÇADE | STRASSBOURG | FRANCE

LOOKING SMARTER
How do you bring a 1960s university hall of residence up to current standards whilst at the same
time giving its exterior a fresher and smarter look? The answers were provided by Strasbourg
­architecture firm Urbane Kultur and Terca façade bricks.

B
uilt in the 1960s according to the precepts of the Athens Charter MERGING MODERNISM AND TRADITION Combined with insula-
and the “functional city” dear to Le Corbusier, the Alfred Weiss ting material, the brick reinforces the insulation and considerably limits
university hall of residence belonging to the Strasbourg CROUS the thermal breaks. It provides acoustic comfort and a long-lasting faça-
was in need of dual restructuring: interior renovation to offer the students de, with the building being protected against the elements and external
the convenience of single rooms despite the relatively confined space, shocks. From the aesthetic point of view, the Terca brick allows a com-
and exterior renovation to meet contemporary thermal insulation requi- bination of the modern and the traditional, playing on colour and the
rements whilst at the same time giving the building a successful facelift. laying of the bricks to rectify and create a vibrant effect on the façades.
This was the aim of Urbane Kultur, a firm of architects with considera-
BRICK PROVIDES THERMAL INSULATION AND A NEW LOOK ble experience in restructuring communal buildings, sports, water sports
The 208 renovated study bedrooms, each less than 10 m² in size, have and cultural centres as well as school buildings and children‘s centres.
a triple function: sanitary cubicle, optimised storage areas and larger Philippe Dahan, architect and partner in the firm summarises the choices
windows to open up the horizon and eliminate the feeling of confine- behind this rehabilitation project. “Regarding the exterior structure, we
ment. To meet the thermal requirements, the only solution was external had a building whose geometry was not perfect and whose thermal be-
wall insulation. The option chosen to give the hall of residence an entirely haviour was seriously dated. We also had to deal with the change in the
new look was the Terca façade brick, which was used as external facing. building base, which previously was open and is now enclosed down to
 MULTI-FAMILY | 011

INFO
PROJECT
Renovation of the Alfred Weiss
­university hall of residence
in Strassbourg, France

ARCHITECT
Urbane Kultur
the ground. This was achieved by adding a U-shaped
metal section between the ground floor and the first CLIENT
Strassbourg CROUS
floor. As well as its thermal and long-lasting qualities,
in an environment where this material was already FACING BRICKS
Terca Terre blanche
present, the Terca brick – with its warm white colour
and laid using the Joints Vifs® dry joint masonry sys-
tem to create an abstract, graphic effect – gives the
building a calm, solid, sober look. It also has another
advantage that is important in this type of renovation
project: it allows structural defects and deviations in
verticality to be corrected.”
012 | ROOF / FAÇADE | LISSE | THE NETHERLANDS

FACELIFT ON THE FLY

The “Vogelwijk” townhouses in Lisse were built in the late 1960s. After more than 50 years, the
well-built but in terms of facilities outdated buildings needed a facelift and an adaptation to current
energy requirements. Woningstichting Stek has been entrusted with the renovation of the five
square-shaped building blocks. With subtle changes, they achieved a comprehensive facelift and
improved the housing conditions of 218 homes.
 MULTI-FAMILY | 013

T
he objective was to work with the current tenants balance between personal expression and coherence.
to realise a widely supported renovation plan. The The rows are still divided in blocks of eight to twelve
starting points were: comfort improvements as well ­homes. We turned each block into a kind of painting.
as a change of the appearance and space through an By finishing the masonry walls in different but matching
individualisation of the houses. The renovation had to colours, we created both cohesion and variety as well as
be carried out with the properties being occupied. The individuality. With the insulated HSB element, we could
218 homes were therefore divided into five types varying additionally invest in durability and comfort. Within that
in the extent of wall and roof insulation. A specific ap- framework, we started to compose with three differently
proach was developed per house type, tailored to the coloured bricks. One brick look, identical in terms of tex-
state of the property. The brick façade could be replaced ture and size, but distinctive in colour. In short, individu-
in a single day. The prefabricated components, develo- alisation within a collective appearance. Driving past in
ped on the basis of a model home, were mounted from your car, you won‘t see it. When cycling past, the colour
the outside. For the Stek Corporation it mattered that it differences are noticeable. When you pass on foot, the
could retain the properties. The dwellings were adapted intended individuality is clearly noticeable.”
to current energy requirements. All houses were awar-
ded a green energy label by the EPA-Advisor. ELABORATE DESIGN AND ACCURATE EXECU-
TION Rien van Amerongen, Advisor of Gevel & Wand
REFURBISHMENT OF 218 OCCUPIED HOMES ­Wienerberger added: “In this project, the decision was
“This major maintenance project comprising 218 h ­ omes to replace the outer shell with solid facing bricks. An
with the residents staying in place required careful plan­ alter­native to this is the SlimBrick, allowing more space
ning and preparation”, says George Altena from the for insulation. However, standard facing bricks also crea-
Coen Hagedoorn Construction Group. “To be able to te an appropriate, robust renovation solution. It is nice to
work quickly and efficiently, we had a first test-run in a be able to make your contribution to this selection pro-
vacant house. We made our sketches and developed a cess. The builder did a great job in Lisse, with fantastic
pilot project.” The façades and roofs were prefabricated process management. The work was done by a good
based on the pilot project. To reduce inconveniences, architect. He knew how to create a subtile colour range
the façades and roofs were replaced in one day. After with the various facing bricks.”
three days, the works on the front and rear walls as well
as on the roof were completed. Older people, people
with asthma or walking difficulties could temporarily stay
in a guest house provided by Stek Wonen.

BRICKS ALLOW UNITY IN DIVERSITY Ron Baltus-

sen, Hooyschuur Architects explains the design con-
cept: “The brick facings of the houses had a poor visual
quality and were highly identical, whereas corporations
and tenants currently strive for a certain individualisati-
on. So how far do you go with it? Dutch social housing
might appear boring, but it radiates peace and cohe-
sion. We started working on that basis, looking for the
INFO
PROJECT
Renovation project of the “Vogelwijk”
townhouses in Lisse, The Netherlands

ARCHITECT
Ron Baltussen, Hooyschuur Architects,
Wormerveer

CLIENT
Woningstichting Stek, Lisse

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Coen Hagedoorn Construction Group, Huizen

FACING BRICKS
Terca coral red, beige red and mastic

ROOF TILES
Koramic Madura – slate engobed
and natural red

COMPLETION
2014
014 | WALL | SCHWERIN | GERMANY

SCHWERIN‘S GEM
The listed building ensemble is located in the old town of Schwerin. It was constructed around
1842 by order of Grand Duke Paul Friedrich of Mecklenburg as a prestigious hotel according to
the d
­ esign of Georg Adolf Demmler, a student of Schinkel. In 2011, the elaborate stucco and half-­
timbered façade was for conservation-related reasons insulated on the inside with Poroton-WDF.
 MULTI-FAMILY | 015

The listed building in Schwerin’s old town was constructed as a

prestigious hotel in 1842. It consists of 3 building parts.

parts: a four-storey entrance building with a richly

adorned plaster façade, an adjoining half-timbered
central part, which comprised four-storeys before the
refurbishment, now only two, as well as the building
Klosterstraße 5. Together, the buildings form a semi-
open courtyard.

COMFORT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF MONU-

MENT PROTECTION The utilization concept of the
new owner intended the implementation of comfort­
able apartments with floor areas ranging between
60 to 184 m² to be carried out in the course of the
restoration in keeping with monument protection re-
quirements. All the apartments should have a balcony
or a garden terrace. The installation of new lift sys-
tems should provide barrier-free access to all storeys.
Aiming to upgrade the quality of outdoor areas, the
concept proposed – despite the landmark status –
the demolition of two storeys of the central part of the
building to create a green, bright inner courtyard. In
2011, Schwerin-based architect Antje Forejt started
to analyse, plan and implement the necessary refur-
bishment works.

REFURBISHMENT BASED ON SUSTAINABILITY

CRITERIA A carefully planned energy concept was
imperative for the refurbishment under monument
protection aspects.
The insulation behind the façades with a slate
cladding was fitted with 16-centimetre exterior insu-
lation. The ceramic thermal insulation Poroton-WDF
by Schlagmann was used on the inside of the dilapi- INFO
dated and damp stucco and half-timbered façades. PROJECT

T
en years after the opening of the luxuriously fitted The capillary-active, diffusion-open insulating material Refurbishment of a residential and
commercial building in Schwerin,
out hotel, its operation was discontinued. Sub- facilitates a functional interior insulation of the exterior
Germany
sequently, the building complex was subjected wall.
ARCHITECT
to changing uses and a large number of conversion After the completion of refurbishment works Antje
Antje Forejt, forejt architekten,
and extensions. Since the 1990s, the ensemble had Forejt commented on her approach: “The restora- Schwerin
finally been completely vacant and so the building tion of the building in keeping with monument pro-
­C ONSTRUCTION COMPANY
structure suffered considerably. When the owner tection regulations was in all respects aiming for the Schelfbau GmbH & Co. KG
changed in 2011, the ensemble was refurbished in a implementation of the best possible solution with due CLAY BLOCKS
sustainable and sensitive way and converted to suit consideration of monument conservation issues, the Poroton-WDF, 18 cm
contemporary residential and commercial uses. urban development, the property developer, and cur- FLOOR AREA
The ensemble “Schlossstraße 12/Klosterstraße 5” rent technical requirements.” 2,177 m2
is located in the immediate vicinity of Schwerin’s Further information on Poroton-WDF is available at COMPLETION
governmental buildings. It consists of three building www.poroton-wdf.de. 2014
016 | FAÇADE | ZURICH | SWITZERLAND

T
he districts on the northern outskirts of Zurich used to be rural by the open-plan layout, creating the spacious rooms initially aimed for,
communities, which were only urbanised as industrialisation took especially as the building volume more than doubled, from 410 m³ to
hold. This led to a large number of estates being built for employ­ 870 m³.
ees of the major industrial enterprises. The worker’s house built in the
Affoltern district in 1930 is typical of its time: to keep as much of the nar- CLAY BUILDING MATERIALS FOR WALLS AND ROOF The extra
row plot of land as possible free for a self-sufficient lifestyle, the house storey and the wall separating the extension from the house next door
was joined to the one next door at the plot boundary. were built of brick. This was clearly the best solution, as it was simple
and low-cost to construct and, in the case of the extension, provides
DOUBLING THE VOLUME This meant that the space available no the necessary level of fire protection and noise insulation. “Using bricks
longer met modern requirements, and since there was permission for made it possible to keep the building’s original material concept while
the house to be extended and have an extra floor added, it was con- enhancing it in a logical way,” says architect Martina Roth. The new roof,
verted and expanded in 2005. The aim was to create two two-storey which is now one storey higher and thus has the same ridge height as
apartments with spacious layouts in the converted house. To this end, the house next door, was covered with dark grey roof tiles. The conver-
another floor was added to the building and a cube-shaped extension sion has thus transformed the former worker’s house into an elegant
built on the side facing the courtyard. This meant that each of the three building with a consistent colour concept. The grey roof perfectly mat-
storeys was enlarged by 20 m², while the top floor received a terrace on ches the red-dyed wooden slats on the extension and the façade of the
the roof of the annexe. The extension and the existing house are merged existing building, which was given a plain white finish.
 SINGLE-FAMILY | 017

CREATING MORE SPACE

WITH FINESSE
With a cleverly positioned extension and an additional floor, a small worker’s
house was transformed into an elegant townhouse featuring two spacious
two-storey apartments. The walls were built of brick and a new tiled roof was
added to cover the successful conversion.

INFO
A worker’s house was transformed into
an elegant townhouse PROJECT
Conversion of a townhouse in Zurich,
Switzerland

ARCHITECT
Imroth GmbH, Flawil

CLIENT
Margrith Roth, Zurich

ROOF TILES
Plano roof tiles

CLAY BLOCKS
Swissmodul

FLOOR AREA
218 m²

More details and plans under

www.architectum.com
018 | FAÇADE | OTTIGNIES | BELGIUM

RENOVATION MEANS LOOKING AHEAD

In a two-stage barn conversion project, architect Xavier van der Heyden created a spacious family
house that is a harmonious blend of the old and the new. The secret behind it? A logical master ­
plan and love of natural materials allowing a contemporary design to be integrated into a rich
­architectural tradition.

R
enovation sometimes requires long-term plan­ this could be used as the focal point for an extension
ning if requirements, flexibility, sustainability added at a later date.
targets and the available budget have to be re- This new part has now been realised. Sophisti-
conciled. This project perfectly illustrates this point. In cation in both the design and the use of materials
2002, the architect Xavier van der Heyden converted meant that the architect was able to forge a cohesive
a barn with a basement into a compact house. From whole from the old and new parts, while nevertheless
the very start, the architect made allowances for a keep­ing them clearly distinct. A striking element is the
larger family. The actual accommodation facilities as choice of Blue Terca Paepesteen as facing brick for
well as a vertical stairwell with front door and hallway the new part. The fired bricks clearly distinguish the
were added; an appropriate family budget provided, extension from the red masonry facing of the former
 SINGLE-FAMILY | 019

The new volume has a consistently

contemporary appearance thanks to
its facing bricks, which have been
glued on and because the rainwater
downpipes are embedded flush in the
wall.

The judicious positioning of the new

part created an intimate patio along
the garden side.

barn. The separate identity is emphasized by using a The new part is, of course, very well insulated and
INFO
thin-bed laying method and integrating the rainwater set up to be sustainable. Architect Xavier van der
downpipes into the wall. At the same time, it is clear Heyden on the advantages of the clay material: “The PROJECT
Barn conversion project in Ottignies,
from the dark colour accents provided by the double- bricks act as a temporary heat reservoir, only releasing
Belgium
fired clay bricks in the façade of the original part that it again slowly, and thus add to the level of comfort for
ARCHITECT
the two outer walls belong together. “The fired Blue the residents throughout the year. Ceramic building
Atelier XVDH – Xavier van der Heyden,
Terca Paepesteen is a reference to the shades you materials are good for sustainable architecture: the Ottignies
can see in the double-fired facing bricks that were raw materials and the production are local and the CLIENT
used in the original barn”, adds the architect. product properties help create a pleasant and healthy Atelier XVDH – Xavier van der Heyden,
The distinction can be seen in other details as well. environment to live in.” Ottignies

The new part is higher, its front is closer to the street Additionally, a GSHP (ground source heat pump) FACING BRICKS
and it extends further back into the garden, so that in the extension provides cooling in summer and Terca Blauwe Paepesteen

a sheltered patio was created in the corner where warm air for heating in winter. Solar control glazing
the two volumes meet. The unity is then created by prevents overheating on hot days, while allowing sun
the typical gabled roofs and the aluminium window rays in during the winter. The architecture bonds the
frames. design and the benefits of the residence together.
020 | WALL | BERLIN | GERMANY

CHARACTERFUL REPLACEMENT
Located on the outskirts of Berlin, this former farmstead dating from 1873 was originally built by
colonists with little land. Following consultation with the conservation authorities, it was agreed that
the most economic option would be the best solution – to demolish the existing building and rebuild
it in the original style.

T
he result is a modern family home with histo- has been integrated into the new house in compli-
ric charm, in which old and new features are ance with conservation regulations. Leading off from
re­
­ united. The entrance door, transom win- the hallway is a granny flat and access to workrooms
dows, half-hipped roof and stone plinth were recon­ and the kitchen. The whole of the ground floor has
struct­ed in accordance with historical details. The a bright and generous appearance due to the open
clients wanted a both natural and highly insulated doorways. The exposed brickwork in the arches was
building envelope. They opted for Perlite-filled clay salvaged during the demolition, and confers more
blocks from Wienerberger‘s joint venture Schlag- than just a rustic character to the building. All in all, a
mann ­Poroton. wonderful unique example of traditional brick archi­
tecture has been recreated. The roof space has been
MODERN AND TRADITIONAL Passing through converted in a contemporary studio style. The liv­ing
the timber front door, you arrive in the hallway, a ty- and bedroom and modern bathroom with a wood-­
pical feature of these smallholders‘ houses, which heated sauna are now located on the first floor.
 SINGLE-FAMILY | 021

Left: Smallholder‘s house full of character: The entrance door,

transom windows, half-hipped roof, and stone plinth were
reconstructed in accordance with historical details.

Left: Old and new features are

reunited. Inside view with exposed
bricks in the kitchen.

The retained cellar was refurbished

and now demonstrates the quality of
the architecture of the century before
last.

The floors are tiled throughout the house, the ideal house. This rebuild project is an impressive demons- INFO
solution for the underfloor heating system, which is tration of the fact that tradition and modernity are not
PROJECT
heated by a gas-fired condensing boiler. When com- necessarily mutually exclusive. Monument preserva-
Refurbishment/ Renovation of the
bined with a building envelope from energy-efficient tion requirements were satisfied while still creating a “Büdnerhaus” in Berlin, Germany
clay blocks this guarantees low running costs. In ad- modern, high-quality living space.
ARCHITECT
dition to having excellent sound insulation properties, Dipl.-Ing. Mariola Dieckmann, Berlin
the cellular blocks also provide pleasant room condi-
CLIENT
tions: Fired clay and the Perlite filling do not give off Bianca and Michael Lies, Berlin
any harmful substances. This aspect was particularly CLAY BLOCKS
important to the young family. Clay blocks are also Poroton-T8-P
the preferred choice when it comes to fire protection. FLOOR AREA
The long-life building material has the ideal characte- 315 m²
ristics for a further 200 years in the new smallholder‘s
022 | ROOF / FAÇADE | NOODERWIJK | BELGIUM

A PLACE TO MEET
AND READ
The identity of a village centre is often defined by a single
building that characterises the overall appearance. In the
small village of Noorderwijk, that role is taken by the former
town hall, which was later redesignated as a village hall and
library. Its main features are the warm and welcoming outer
shell clad with wine-red clay tiles and the strong contrast
this forms with the glass extension.

T
he town hall lost its original function when tects decided that the village hall function would be
Noorderwijk was merged with the nearby town taken on by the existing premises. Key features of
of Herentals. While efforts were made to find the building are its archetypical architectural form, the
a new role, the premises were temporarily used large volume, the simple load-bearing structure and
as changing rooms for the municipal environmen- the distinctive symmetrical layout, with the stairwell
tal services and as occasional office for the district in the centre and a number of rooms on both sides.
police­man. After a thorough analysis of options and The building’s structure was ideal for laying out sepa-
require­ments, the local authorities decided to con- rate rooms for a music school, for instance, meeting
vert and expand the former town hall to provide a rooms or a social welfare centre.
village hall and municipal library. Additionally, the de- Quite a number of changes were necessary to get
signers had to integrate a number of parking spaces the stately old building ready for these new functions.
for vehicles of the local Red Cross and the municipal The building was insulated, all the exterior joinery was
environmental services. replaced and the wooden joists replaced with hollow-
The job was awarded to the Bert Gebruers – ­Peter core concrete elements. The load-bearing walls re-
Jannes design studio. At a very early stage the archi­ mained intact.
 PUBLIC USE | 023

The wine-red glazed tiles that the village hall is using clay tiles makes it easy to insulate the existing
INFO
completely clad with strengthen the impressive ap- building”, the architects reasoned their choice of ma-
pearance of the building. The architects emphasise terial. Moreover, they also drew on the repertoire of PROJECT
Conversion of the old town hall in
that “finishing the roof and walls with the same ma- sustainable building services: a heat pump and con- Noorderwijk, Belgium
terial gives a building a monolithic look and a pow- denser boiler for heating, a solar boiler for hot water,
ARCHITECT
erful appearance”. On top of that, they accentuate a ventilation system with heat recovery for the library Ontwerpbureau Bert Gebruers –
the contrast with the transparent cuboid of the new and the village hall, slatted blinds to keep the sun out Peter Jannes bvba, Olen
structure that runs perpendicular to the town hall, pa- and control the temperature, the maximum amount CLIENT
rallel with the street. The section where the existing of natural light combined with energy-efficient lighting The City of Noorderwijk
and new volumes come together has been cleverly controlled by sensors, and a rainwater collection sys- BUILDING ENVELOPE
laid out as the common entrance with an area for sa- tem. These choices were much appreciated by local Koramic Pottelberg 301 Plain Tile,
nitary facilities. associations, because they will undoubtedly encour­ wine-red glazed

The architects also focused on sustainability issu- age the creation of lasting social contacts.
es. As energy consumption was one relevant aspect,
a tiled façade proved advantageous: “A wall cladding
024 | PLACE | AMSTERDAM | THE NETHERLANDS

FROM THE URBAN FRINGE

TO THE CENTRE OF THE EAST
Oostpoort had long been a marginalised part of the city: low-rise buildings, businesses and open
areas. With the arrival of shops, offices and homes, this area had to become the centre of East
Amsterdam. The plans were ambitious, but not irrational, given the already large concentration of
facilities: the district office, the MuzyQ music building, Amsterdam CBD, sports hall, swimming pool,
primary school, and the Muiderpoort station. The number of inhabitants, about 600, is projected to
quadruple.

T
he initial situation was twofold: growth in sup- EVERYTHING THAT MAKES A CITY A CITY A
plies and professional features, but a weak so- large number of agencies contributed to the balan-
cio-economic structure. The vision for the urban ced design of the industrial buildings, the fresh new
development partly emerged from the outcome of structures and the intended intimacy. Urban develop-
negotiations between the Eastern suburb and devel­ ment architect Sjoerd Soeters explained: “Oostpoort
oper OCP. has the atmosphere of an intimate city centre. The
In 2013, the project office East specified: “­There ­public areas, the streets and the squares are com-
will be fewer apartments, more low-rise private pact, so people can recognise each other. Everything
­homes and a more spacious, greener public area. that m
­ akes a city a city we bring together.”
There will be more than 80 social rental homes. This
new plan better reflects the demand on the housing
market and is developed step by step. Thus it can be
implemented a lot faster. The new plan is expected to
appeal to buyers and tenants who would like to live
an urban lifestyle in a green, well-kept and quiet low-
traffic residential area.”

INTIMATE SQUARES AND SHOPPING

STREETS In Oostpoort East, 30 quay-side villas will
INFO be added along the Ringvaart, 70 mansions (for sale),
PROJECT 35 free sector apartments for sale and 84 social rental
Refurbishment/urban developement apartments. In addition to the houses, there will be
of Oostpoort in Amsterdam, a catering facility in the historic Ammonia building of
The Netherlands
the Oostergasfabriek, a former gas plant. The new
ARCHITECT residential area in the eastern part forms the link to
Soeters Van Eldonk architects,
­Amsterdam
the more lively western part, where many high-rise
buildings emerged previously, accommodating apart-
CLIENT
Amsterdam Municipality, District Oost
ments and a shopping area with a parking garage
[East] underneath. “This will become a real Amsterdam
PAVERS neighbourhood comprising a mix of historic buildings
Terca Rosa water-struck DF of the former gas plant and attractive new buildings
COMPLETION with intimate squares and shopping streets and cor-
2014 responding paving.”
PUBLIC USE | 025
026 | ROOF | DRESDEN | GERMANY

EARLY MODERN
­A RCHITECTURE
Buildings like the Hans-Erlwein-Gymnasium in Dresden tell
their own story: about the design concept, the architectural
style at the time of their creation and their changing signifi-
cance in terms of urban development. The building, which
was meanwhile placed under a conservation order, under-
went comprehensive restoration between 2012 and 2014.

T
he school was built between 1912 dormers; the upper section is a very steep
and 1914 in the Dresden district of double-pitch roof, whose ridge is about 15
Gruna under the supervision of Hans m lower than that of the roofs of the two
Erlwein, head of the Dresden City Building wings, and which ends in the rear part of
Department. To this day, the building con- the respective hips.
sists of the north and south wings, which
are linked by a recessed central section IDEAL COMBINATION The restoration
with a dining hall on the raised ground floor, carried out in 2012-14 according to de-
a gymnasium on the first floor and passage­ signs of Elbcontor Architekten, Dresden,
ways on the second and third floor. The included reorganisation measures to adapt
whole block comprises five storeys in addi- the building to the requirements of the fu-
tion to the basement and attic floors. While ture school operation. The refurbishment
the building is dominated by the two wings, of the building envelope under energy-
which form prominent corners with clearly consumption aspects, which involved the
defined façades, the central linking section installation of new windows, also included
is distinguished by a curved avant-corps or a complete renewal of the roof.
protruding front part with a balcony. The roof was re-tiled in conformity with
The respective roofs give the building conservation requirements using Koramic
an upper end appropriate to the distinc- Alegra 12 tiles with a deep black engobe
tive architecture. An elongated mansard finish. Koramic E32 tiles with a matching
roof interrupted by dormers is topped by colour and profile were used on all of the
a hipped roof. The fifth floor and the attic mansard roofs. This tile offered advan­
floors are visually separated by a cornice at tages in forming the eyebrow dormers due
eaves level. The roof of the linking structure to its range of special shapes in including
is divided into two parts: the lower part is ­A-shaped formats and those tapered either
a classic mansard roof, which is interrup- on the left or right.
ted on the street elevation by five eyebrow
 PUBLIC USE | 027

INFO
PROJECT
Refurbishment of the Hans-Erlwein-Gymnasium in
­Dresden, Germany

ARCHITECT
Elbcontor Architekten, Dresden

CLIENT
City of Dresden

ROOFER
Zimmereihandwerk Aufbau GmbH, Chemnitz

ROOF TILES
Koramic Alegra 12 - deep black engobed, E32, Stormfix

ROOF AREA
2,950 m2

COMPLETION
2014
028 | ROOF | SCHLOSS EBREICHSDORF | AUSTRIA

HISTORIC
­J EWEL
The ravages of time have also taken their toll on the historic jewel Schloss
Ebreichsdorf in Austria. The roof of the water castle dating from the 13th century
was leaking and the penetration of water threatened to damage the building
structure. Consequently the owners, the Drasche-Wartinberg Family, decided on
having the 2,800 m² roof surfaces elaborately refurbished true to the original.
HISTORIC | 029
030 | ROOF | SCHLOSS EBREICHSDORF | AUSTRIA

T
he fortified castle dating from the 13th century, took an active part with words and deeds. The speci-
which was converted into a Renaissance cast- fications made by the monument protection authority
le and today’s Schloss Ebreichsdorf in the 16th included the use of the historically correct material of
century, was subjected to an elaborate roof refurbish­ clay roof tiles with a Tasche format – no plain tiles –
ment. The Drasche-Wartinberg Family took the initi- and the refurbishment of the chimneys, towers and
ative for this once-in-a-century investment and, in dormers in their original appearance.
collaboration with the monument protection authority
and the Tondach Company, achieved an exemplary There is a historical connection between your
result true to the original. In the following interview, family, the Wienerberger Company and Schloss
Nora Drasche-Wartinberg describes the moving Ebreichsdorf. Would you please explain this brief-
­family backgrounds as well as details from the refur- ly? Did this influence your selection of the roof
bishment works. tiles?
Nora Drasche-Wartinberg: The great-great-grand-
Did you involve the monument protection authori- father of my husband, Heinrich Drasche took over the
ty in this roof refurbishment? If so, what were the “Wienerberger Ziegelwerke” from his uncle and big
main criteria? What requirements were imposed industrialist, Alois Miesbach, which he established as
on the building materials in order to achieve a re- Wienerberger AG in 1869 and as one of the largest
sult as true to the original as possible? and most progressive companies in Austro-Hungary.
Nora Drasche-Wartinberg: Yes, the castle is under Schloss Ebreichsdorf was purchased by the D ­ rasche
a preservation order and the monument protection Family in 1909 and still serves as family seat. The con-
authority was, of course, involved in this project. The tact to the Wienerberger Company and the d ­ ecision
competent art historians were very cooperative and to use Tondach roof tiles was obvious, but this was
 HISTORIC | 031

The special feature of this roofing

solution for historic buildings is the
mixture of three roof tile formats as
well as their roughened surface, which
facilitates historic characteristics.
The colour antique was specifically
coordinated to match the existing old
roof and sampled accordingly.

not the only reason for our decision. We visited the alpinists. In order to reuse the old roof truss dating
INFO
Tondach Company in Gleinstätten and were advised from the 16th century, the original battens including
regarding material and colours. The proposal of Ton- the old roof tiles had to be removed. For that purpo- PROJECT
Roof refurbishment Schloss
dach and our choice was subsequently coordinated se, a lift was specifically installed. The construction
­Ebreichsdorf, Austria
with the monument protection authority. In the end, works for the refurbishment of the large roof area of
CLIENT
we used the “Wiener Tasche” old town package in 3 2,800 m² with two towers and several chimneys were
Drasche-Wartinberg‘sche
colours and 3 lengths, which was laid by the roofers carried out over a period of three summers. ­Gutsver­waltung, Ebreichsdorf
in an arbitrary pattern to deliberately produce asym-
ROOFER
metry. The new roof should not sit on the historic With this roof refurbishment you made an impor- Reinhard GREIL GmbH, Dölsach
castle like an unnatural orange blot! tant contribution to the preservation of the histo-
ROOF TILES
ric building. Did the public appreciate your efforts TONDACH old town package
Owing to the property, a castle surrounded by or did you receive any support? “Tasche”, engobe antique

moats, you were surely confronted with difficult Nora Drasche-Wartinberg: We have made the de- ROOF AREA
conditions for the refurbishment works. How long cision in favour of this once-in-a-century investment 2,800 m2

did it the refurbishment take and how was the all by ourselves, whereby my husband deserves great COMPLETION
work carried out? thanks for his initiative. We experienced very positive 2013

Nora Drasche-Wartinberg: We obtained several appreciation from our entire environment and were
cost estimates, from which we found the Greil Com- also granted financial support from the State and the
pany from Lienz was best. Owing to the moats sur- monument preservation authority, but we have borne
rounding the castle, the refurbishment works had to the lion’s share of the costs.
be carried out without scaffolding. The work on the
tower was done by craftsmen hanging on ropes like More details and the full interview under
www.architectum.com
032 | ROOF | CHIDEOK MEMORIAL CHAPEL | UNITED KINGDOM

ARCHITECTURE TO HONOUR THE PAST

AND FIT THE PRESENT
The Chideock Memorial Chapel, part of the Manor of Chideock, is a building steeped in history. The
church started life as a simple barn, which, in the 17th century, at the height of the English Civil War,
was used as a safe place for Catholic worship. Following the conflict, the barn was transformed into
the stunning church, which is now enjoyed by many.
 HISTORIC | 033

T
he Chideock Memorial Chapel, part of the Man­ niques and materials have changed huge­ly since the The twin colours seen in the roof tiles
or of Chideock, is a building rich with ancient church was first created, but wherever possible the perfectly illustrate the thought behind
the dome‘s restoration
English and religious history. Starting life as architect and owners wanted materials and methods
nothing more than a barn in the grounds of the manor to echo the original design.
house, it became a place of secret Catholic worship With that in mind, and on the basis of a series of
in the wake of the Civil War, before Humphrey Weld, factory visits to meet the craftsmen and observe the
and then his son, Charles, transformed the barn into traditional ways of working, the architect specified
a beautiful church, dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of Sandtoft, Wienerberger’s UK roof brand, to supply
Martyrs and St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of clay roof tiles. Making use of its specialist heritage
Jesus. expertise as part of its Heritage Service, Sandtoft
This particular project represented a huge tech- created two bespoke clay tiles for the dome. The first
nical and aesthetic challenge. The chapel’s striking was an interlocking spearhead tile, specifically crea- INFO
dome required replacement with something more in ted to visually reference original old tiles recovered
PROJECT
keeping with the original style of the building. At some from the barn (even before it became the chapel it is Chideock Memorial Chapel,
point in its history, its original roof had been repaired today). These were manufactured in two colours (red United Kingdom
or replaced with one that might have kept the rain and black) so as to provide a striking and complex ARCHITECT
out, but certainly didn’t do justice to the architecture zig-zag pattern on the completed dome. The second Andrew Stone, Dorset
of its construction. style was a buff hip tile, with a barley rub twist on the CLIENT
The owner of the chapel, Gaby Martelli, teamed up façade. Gaby Martelli
with architect, Andrew Stone, and main contractors The result is architecture that not only honours the ROOF TILES
and conservation specialists Magenta Building Repair, past and fits the present, but will stand well into the Bespoke Sandtoft tiles – red and black
to begin the careful process of restoring the church to future. COMPLETION
its former glory in June 2013. Naturally, building tech- 2014
034 | ROOF | PALAIS DE JUSTICE DE LAON | FRANCE

A PALACE REBORN
A former episcopal residence adjacent to the cathedral, Laon‘s Law Courts, the “Palais de Justice”,
which is listed as a historic monument, was almost closed in 2004. An exemplary collaboration and
an exceptional restoration project – topped off with a tiled roof by Aléonard Patrimoine – have now
revitalised the building.

P
erched on a rocky hill, the old town of Laon and naissance façade, has accommodated Henry IV,
its cathedral dominate the surrounding plain ­Catherine de Médicis, Anne of Austria, and Louis XIV
and are visible from far away. At the heart of … no less!
this protected area, the Palais de Justice was owing
to its temporary slate and red steel roof a constant ROOF TILE WITH AESTHETIC QUALITIES It
source of irritation for many locals. This changed in therefore deserved some care and attention and a
2011, when the Public Prosecutor and the Minister of roof in keeping with its prestigious history. The de-
Justice decided to invest some four million Euros in cision was made to use Aléonard Patrimoine Ocré
its renovation, which required more than two years of Lichen clay roof tiles. These tiles, particularly appre-
work and the refurbishment of the 3,226 m² roof area ciated for their aesthetic qualities, were used in three
with Aléonard tiles. different sizes with varying nuances in order to create
In its history this building, which includes some an effect as close as possible to the historical charac-
remnants of a 12th century building and a fine Re- ter of the building.
 HISTORIC | 035

The three sizes of nuanced Aléonard

Patrimoine Ocré Lichen tiles create an
effect that perfectly matches to the
historical character of the building.

INFO
PROJECT
Roof renovation of the “Palais de
Justice” in Laon, France

ARCHITECT
Mrs Plantinet

CLIENT
Ministry of Justice

ROOFER
José Faucheux Crépy

ROOF TILES
Koramic Aléonard Patrimoine Ocré
Lichen

ROOF AREA
3,226 m²

A PROJECT REQUIRING GREAT ARTISAN methods and with noble materials like gold leaf, cop-
SKILLS José Faucheux, the only artisan roofer in the per, lead, and, of course, Aléonard Patrimoine tiles.
Aisne Department qualified to work on “historic mo- It was a genuine adventure for us and the collabo-
numents”, nicknamed the “pope of the bell towers”, ration with the Ministry of Justice, the Bâtiments de
was chosen from among eight competitors for this France architect, Mrs Plantinet, the other contractors
job, which ended with him winning an award at the and Wienerberger, represented by Stéphane Raux
Trophées Aléonard. It‘s a job he won‘t forget any time and Pascal Harang, was exemplary. On this venera­
soon... ble, but extremely steep roof, exposed to all weathers
“My fifteen journeymen and I are very proud of our and some gale-force winds, we took great care to do
work on this project. Even though we spend almost an aesthetically pleasing job – with the tapering of the
half our time on heritage restoration jobs, it‘s not tiles for the turrets in particular – and one that would
­every day that you get a roof this size to work on. And last, with every tile being fastened down by two cop-
it is always a great pleasure to work using traditional per nails. Fine workmanship!”
www.architectum.com