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Thanks to a major renovation of the east facade, the Anslijnflat in Amsterdam has been restored to its former glory. The 200 members of the homeowners’ association deliberately chose Accoya wood window frames with triple-pane glass because of their long lifespan and minimal maintenance requirements.
The Netherlands has more than 8.2 million homes, of which approximately three million are apartments. A substantial portion of these are the gallery-style apartment buildings constructed in the 1960s and 1970s. Changing housing preferences led to a number of these buildings being replaced by modern high-rises. Others were transferred to private ownership under the management of a homeowners’ association (VvE) and underwent renovation. There are also apartment buildings that have been entirely privately owned since their completion, such as Meer & Vaart, built in 1964 on Nicolaas Anslijnstraat in Amsterdam Osdorp.
The Anslijn apartment building (officially known as VvE Meer & Vaart) was designed by architect Arthur Staal (1907–1993). With a length of nearly 150 meters and a height of eleven stories, the building was an iconic landmark from the very beginning. The bottom two stories contain seventeen commercial spaces, sixteen offices, and residential storage units and garages. Above that, Staal designed 170 maisonette apartments accessed via five galleries on the west facade. The eastern balcony side offers an unobstructed view of the nearby Sloterplas. Staal constructed this gallery and balcony facade using a clean concrete grid, filled with identical facades.
Drafts, cold, and leaks have been taking a toll on the building’s livability for decades. A number of apartment owners took matters into their own hands and had plastic, aluminum, or wooden window frames installed. The building became ‘cluttered,’ and the appearance of the facade strayed far from the splendor of Staal’s design. “Continuing with temporary repairs would ultimately cost more than the renovation,” says Lodewijk Berkhout, who has lived there since 2020. He is a co-initiator and client of the now-completed total facade replacement. The exterior facades of apartment buildings are typically jointly owned by all the apartment owners. The homeowners“ association (VvE) is responsible for management and maintenance. Berkhout became the tireless chair of the construction team that was formed. Together with like-minded neighbors, he went door-to-door to get all 200 homeowners on board with the plan. Berkhout: ”In a project like this, with so many individual owners, there has to be trust—and that starts with looking each other in the eye and listening to one another.”
Vanschagen Architects used Accoya window frames with triple-pane glass to restore the facade’s original abstract appearance. Accoya is a brand name for high-quality modified Radiata Pine, a fast-growing softwood species. The outward-opening floor-to-ceiling windows from Staal’s design were replaced with tilt-and-turn windows. Residents could choose between a sliding glass door or a double (balcony) door. In addition, self-regulating ventilation was installed. The end facades were retrofitted with insulation behind brick veneer, and the glass blocks in the stairwells were replaced with (Accoya) window frames.
The use of Accoya was recommended by several experts. Berkhout: “Although it’s more expensive to purchase, Accoya offers a unique combination of durability, stability, and aesthetics. It retains its shape extremely well and has a proven long lifespan. It requires less maintenance, and that cost factor over the long term makes it attractive to us as building owners. In addition, it is produced sustainably. People also like that idea, but to be honest, it isn’t a deciding factor for everyone.”
The homeowners“ association organized a selection process, following which Van den Oudenrijn was selected as the general contractor. Renovation specialist Van den Oudenrijn Timmerselekt manufactured the facades (thermal insulation value U < 1.0 W/m²K) and supplied a total of 433 Concept III window frames, fully finished and glazed. Each facade was individually measured in advance. ”It’s something we’re good at,“ says director Rob van den Oudenrijn. ”The wood was purchased cut to length to avoid sawing waste and to maintain the pace of production. It really turned into a just-in-time project.”
A crane was present at the construction site throughout the entire construction period. The scaffolding was erected and moved in three phases. This efficient approach made it possible to remove and install fifteen facades per week with minimal disruption to residents. In collaboration with paint manufacturer Sikkens, Van den Oudenrijn offers a 15-year warranty on the paintwork up to the eighth floor and a 12-year warranty on the three floors above that. According to manufacturer Accsys Technologies, Accoya window frames have an expected lifespan of 77 to 90 years.
The renovation was funded through the maintenance budget and a gradual increase in the homeowners‘ association (VvE) dues. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency provides a subsidy for the insulated glass. The National Heat Fund provides loans to homeowners’ associations to make their properties more sustainable. The entire renovation is documented in the highly readable e-book *De lange hordenloop* by journalist Frank Steenkamp, which is available online. It serves as a handy practical guide for anyone who owns a condominium built before 1995.
