The renovation of a poorly maintained industrial building in Avelgem, Belgium has been completed, with careful consideration paid to restoring original detailing. The building was in use until 2000, and then left to fall into ruin for 12 years. Following an extensive five year renovation project, it is now home to 59 apartments.

The original windows had been constructed from wood and over the years had been replaced by steel. Demeestere Architects + Garmyn & Partners felt that it was important to use original materials to restore the building to its former glory. Accoya wood was the ideal material because with its 50 year above ground guarantee, it provided a sustainable, long-lasting solution that will stand the test of time and require minimal maintenance.

The windows have been designed in the original profile, with the same flutes, embossing and condensation gutter. Following an in-depth study, the paint is exactly the colour as in 1907. Accoya wood’s improved stability means that coatings last up to twice as long, with less preparation and sanding required.

Due to the size of the windows, 5.75m by 3.75m, another important consideration was the stability of the material. With Accoya®, swelling and shrinkage is reduced by 75% or more, so it provided peace of mind that the residents would have comfortable living conditions, with no gaps forming in the windows.

 Using Accoya wood has been an overwhelming success. With the challenge of having large window dimensions, using a different kind of wood to achieve these results would have been absolutely impossible. In addition, it is an environmentally responsible type of wood, which is very important at our architectural firm.”

Bart Demeestere – Architect