Renovated national monument gets balanced ventilation from Duco

In the heart of Deventer we find the former Salland bank branch. The bank on Hofstraat looked neglected for several years. Two years ago, interior designer Carlos van Dijk had his eye on this historic building. He and his wife Thea instantly fell in love and transformed this listed building into a true gem. On the top floor, the bare attic space was converted into a luxurious apartment with attention to a healthy indoor climate.

When we open the majestic front door, it immediately becomes clear to us. This is a structure with a soul. Several rooms, each of which has its own atmosphere and style. We meet the owners Carlos van Dijk and Thea Witteveen.

National Monument

'This structure has never known a residential function,' Witteveen goes on. 'The opportunity for us to transform this apartment into a warm home in a beautiful location was sublime. The building was recognized as a National Monument, meaning we were still bound by some restrictions. For example, we chose double glazing throughout, with the exception of some window frames where we had to use high-quality monument glass. We worked in close consultation with the National Trust for Historic Buildings and restored the building as much as possible to its original state.'

Future proof apartment

Once upstairs in the apartment, we notice the homey coziness. 'We had a strong preference for natural warm materials such as red cedar, ayous wood and linoleum,' says van Dijk. 'We also handle energy consciously. Our apartment is ready for the future. This building has no gas, but district heating. We chose the DucoBox Energy ventilation system in combination with thorough insulation. We went looking for supply and return valves that are almost invisible in the room and ended up with the DucoVent Design valves. These valves have a subtle design and are suitable for ceiling and wall mounting. Given that our apartment is in the ridge of the roof, this was the ideal solution.'

Choice of balanced ventilation

Edwin Spijker, installation regional manager at Duco, joins them: 'In modern apartments like Carlos and Thea's, more and more attention is being paid to airtight insulation. After all, saving on energy bills can only be effective when the home is airtight insulated. However, the fresh air has to come from somewhere, and preferably not through uncontrolled air currents. After all, these air flows cause heat losses. By fully controlling the inflow and outflow of fresh air with the DucoBox Energy balanced ventilation system, you prevent energy losses and make the best possible use of the heat already present.'

Integrated 2-zone control

'Duco was the first to introduce demand control to the Dutch market according to System C with integrated 7-zone control in the DucoBox Focus,' Spijker explains. 'Then in 2018, the DucoBox Energy saw the light of day, the first System D with integrated zone control. The zone control works with a dynamic wing that optimally distributes airflows between the 2 zones with a minimum of resistance based on demand control. The advantage of integrated control lies in the convenient plug-and-play concept: only basic wiring is needed to power the ventilation box. Additional electronics between the WTW unit and an external valve are not required with the DucoBox Energy. In this way, our system minimizes installation errors and maximizes the installer's peace of mind.'

Quietest WTW unit in Europe

'By using the DucoBox Energy with smart demand control based on CO₂ and moisture, optimum energy efficiency is achieved,' Spijker continued. 'The system follows the resident's movements in the home and, as a result, will automatically determine via sensors at what time ventilation should be provided. Acoustic comfort for the resident has also been considered. Independent tests show that the sound power on the supply side is so low that the DucoBox Energy can be considered the quietest WTW unit in Europe (55 dB at 325 m³/h). 'Thanks to the implementation of the ventilation system, a comfortable indoor climate and resident comfort are more guaranteed than ever for Carlos and Thea,' said a satisfied Spijker.