The conception of this project came about through intense collaboration between the practice’s leading architect, Bruno Longeval, and the owners of the home, the Berckmans-Waldeyer family.
The fabricator was Van Hecke Ramen & Deuren, who were convinced by AluK’s track record of successful projects – quality work with excellent end results – as well as the positive influence of past acquisitions by the AluK group. This was all the more inspirational give that the fabricator customer is a fairly young manufacturer.
Van Hecke stated that they noticed the AluK range of products was constantly expanding, which allowed them to satisfy any special wishes of customers. This project was certainly one of these special cases, being an ambitious programme of work.
The fabricator and the family had worked together on numerous projects before; it was a fairly constant relationship with ongoing projects in apartment construction. The family provided Van Hecke with the plans for their private new home through Lemaire & Longeval.
This extensive construction programme incorporated various façade materials, including ornamental plaster for the living rooms and brick for the functional rooms. AluK Themis was chosen for its slim and strong steel-look design, the aluminium window systems providing excellent light and exceptional insulation.
With the curtain wall system, AluK Themis was combined with steel-reinforced models from products in other AluK series. This composition ensured the entrance hall windows are robust yet sleek; in fact, Van Hecke finds the impressive entrance of the house the most successful part of the project.
Because of Van Hecke’s expertise of AluK products, it was not an issue for them to manufacture the high 2.7m windows, divided into modules of 60 x 90cm.
Above all, Bruno Longeval was keen to provide sufficient light in their projects. He wanted to create “an oasis of peace” and “a feeling of vacation”. This calming atmosphere certainly comes through in the final photographs. The placement and dimensions of the windows were a result of both aesthetic and functional choice.
They said: “Years of collaboration between ourselves and the Berckmans-Waldeyer family on different projects has taught us that AluK materials and the experience of Van Hecke are the best for our goals.”
With excellent planning among all the partners in this project, the house was able to be completed in under a year.