Balk van Beel - Louvain

PROJECT PDF
Willemen Groep
Boerenkrijgstraat 133, BE - 2800 Mechelen
tel +32 15 569 965, [email protected]
Balk van Beel - Louvain
Activities
Buildings
Residential
Contractor
Willemen General Contractor
Executed works
Apartment building with 101
apartments and underground car park
+ AB InBev parking
Location
Vaartkom, Leuven, Vlaams Brabant,
Belgium
Client
Ertzberg
Price
€27.000.000
Architects
Stéphane Beel
Engineering Office
B.A.S. (stabiliteit), Ingenium (speciale
technieken), Daidalos (akoestiek),
TDA (energiestudies & advies)
Surface area above ground
15 000m²
Surface area subterranean
6 000m²
Construction period
3 years 3 months
Start work
01-2011
End of work
04-2014
New construction of 101 apartments, 2,400m² of commercial space
and underground parking for ± 400 cars, on two underground levels.
The Balk van Beel is part of the Tweewaters city masterplan. The
185 m long building borders on a pedestrian and cycle path that
connects the Vaartkom directly with the city centre.
The ground floor also contains small neighbourhood shops and
services and the three lobbies to the apartments above. In these
lobbies every inhabitant has a bicycle rack and a home delivery box.
The apartments are reached via large open staircases.
The five storeys are staggered relative to each other, giving the
building a strong note of elegance and attractive outdoor spaces for
the apartments. The upper storey is conceived as consisting mainly
of patio penthouses.
In this project very great importance was attached to sustainability.
All apartments are low energy (E <60 and k <33), the power supply
is 100% green, sustainable materials were used, and there are
green charging stations for electric cars and a neighbourhood-wide
waste management system. A cogeneration plant also feeds a
district heating network. The airtightness tests of the apartments
fulfil the client's minimum of all scoring below 1.
In 2012 and 2013, the project twice received a prestigious BREEAM
award, and with a score of 87.8% was praised as an ‘outstanding’
© Willemen Groep
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building in the area of sustainability. It also emerged as winner in the
international comparison with all other buildings in its category. For
this reason, Balk van Beel can be called the most sustainable
residential building on the European mainland. Due to its excellent
thermal and acoustic insulation, high recycling percentage and
renewable energy sources, and its intelligent energy use and
sustainable choices of material, it was also nominated by MIPIM in
the category ‘Best Innovative Building’. The sustainable building
was combined with substantially increased living comfort for its
residents, with the environment also benefiting.
The city centre, public transport, numerous businesses, and family
support services are located within walking distance.
Willemen General Contractor
Boerenkrijgstraat 133
2800 Mechelen (Belgium)
tel +32 15 56 99 65
[email protected]
www.willemen.be
Willemen General Contractor was established in 1999 and
formed the basis for the creation of the Willemen Groep. Some
of this group's most important partners are Cosimco, Franki
Construct, Franki, Aswebo and Aannemingen Van Wellen.
© Willemen Groep
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