District heating Assendelft – from concrete block to work of art
Transformation of a concrete district-heating building into a work of art in Assendelft.
Duration
Three weeks
Segment
More than just a technical renovation
Often, concrete repairs are primarily functional and aesthetic values are of secondary importance. Not in Assendelft. A concrete district-heating building had to be renovated, but the client and the municipality had a more ambitious goal in mind: the building had to become a work of art that the residents of the neighbourhood could be proud of.
The technical challenge lay in cleaning and repairing the concrete in a way that could also serve as a substrate for the artistic finish. At the same time, the work had to be carried out without disturbing the surrounding neighbourhood — the building stands in the middle of a residential area.
Collaboration between technology and art
VTG Beton carried out the project together with Aqua Demolition Services. After cleaning and repairing the structure, a finish was designed in close collaboration with artists and the client that matches the identity of the neighbourhood. The planning was tight: the building could not disappear from the streetscape behind scaffolding and barriers for too long.
Execution required perfect coordination between the technical work and the artistic process. First the concrete had to be in top condition before the coating could be applied. The artists then worked with the precise specifications that VTG had supplied. The result: an iconic building that enriches the neighbourhood and at the same time represents a remarkable feat of craftsmanship.
Transformation through hydrodemolition and sprayed concrete
The entire concrete surface was cleaned by means of hydrodemolition and the deteriorated concrete was removed. A levelling layer of wet sprayed concrete was then applied, after which the whole was given various colour coatings. The whole was beautifully finished with impressive, natural imagery.
The choice of hydrodemolition was deliberate: this technique not only cleans the surface but also creates ideal adhesion for the new sprayed concrete. Thanks to the high early strength of the wet spraying system, work could proceed quickly without complicated formwork. The end result is a remarkable project that is a feast for the eyes for the surroundings — and that at the same time fully meets the technical requirements for outdoor exposure.
Arjan de Waard
Contact
Want to know more about this project?
Our specialists would be happy to discuss the possibilities for your project.