93 Gas-Free Apartments in Barendrecht
Patrimonium Barendrecht is working closely with the municipality to create a vibrant and attractive town center—one where people can truly enjoy living. As part of this vision, 93 affordable, sustainable, and lifetime-friendly apartments have been developed in the heart of Barendrecht.
Located across Mr. Lohmanstraat 1–43, Ir. Albardastraat 2–10, and Mr. Thorbeckestraat 34–38, the project consists of three residential buildings, each with 31 rental apartments. The buildings rise to three main floors (four storeys including the roof level), feature pitched roofs, and are equipped with elevators. The tender, initiated by housing association Patrimonium Barendrecht, was based on clearly defined minimum requirements.
Design & Inspiration
The apartments are accessible via galleries starting from the first floor and offer living spaces ranging from 70 m² to 83 m². The design aligns with the municipality’s urban quality plan for the town center and draws inspiration from 1950s architecture—characterized by brick façades in warm, earthy tones.
The project met a strict sustainability requirement of EPC 0.25. Early in the process, construction company Gebroeders Blokland Ontwikkeling en Bouw partnered with Van Hoften Installatietechniek to form a construction team. Triple Solar joined at a later stage.
From Concept to Solution
During the tender phase, several heating concepts were considered, including ventilation air heat pumps and water-to-water systems. While cost played a key role, the integration of these systems into the building design proved equally critical.
This project highlights the importance of involving the installer early in the design phase. Too often, technical constraints—such as limited shaft space, undersized technical rooms, or insufficient roof area—are only discovered after plans are finalized.
Initially, Van Hoften and Gebroeders Blokland planned to present their proposal in person in March 2020. Due to COVID-19, this was replaced by a joint video presentation. By the end of April, their plan was selected as the best proposal with the most competitive pricing.
A Shift Toward Higher Ambitions
Although the initial installation concept offered a cost-effective solution, further discussions revealed opportunities to improve on energy performance and resident comfort. Patrimonium chose to go beyond regulatory requirements and align the project with the more ambitious BENG standards.
After evaluating several alternatives, Van Hoften Installatietechniek proposed a solution based on Triple Solar PVT panels combined with PVT heat pumps—striking a balance between sustainability, efficiency, and long-term value.
Execution & Results
While the new concept was being calculated, the engineering phase progressed simultaneously using a BIM-based approach. Following Patrimonium’s final decision, the project scope and financial framework were finalized at the end of 2020, paving the way for full engineering.
Construction started in 2021 and has since been completed. The PVT heat pump systems are now fully operational and performing exceptionally well, delivering both efficiency and comfort to residents.
Project Partners
Client: Woonstichting Patrimonium Barendrecht
Contractor: Gebroeders Blokland
Installer: Van Hoften Installatietechniek
PVT Systems: Triple Solar
