With its historic centre and vibrant city life, the Belgian city of Bruges appeals to young and old alike. The city’s Avenue residential development adds 11 contemporary apartments and two commercial units to a green location within walking distance of the city centre. Traditional brickwork and modern wood-look blades combine to create a timeless façade. Inside, light colours contrast elegantly with the darker façade elements in Renson‘s Linarte Wood Design.
Developer Bossuyt Vastgoed deliberately wanted a façade that would stand out from more conventional architectural concrete.
Project leader Baptiste Bossuyt commented: “We initially considered timber profiles, but then the architect introduced us to Linarte Wood Design. The warm appearance of wood, combined with excellent fire safety and minimal maintenance, made it the ideal solution.”
Renson’s Linarte and the enduring appeal of wood
Architectural engineer Tom Jonckheere, of Jonckheere IR-architecten, explains: “We’ve used aluminium on many projects to create visual continuity between windows. However, when it matches the joinery colour, the result can become somewhat monotonous, particularly on taller buildings.
“Wood adds warmth and variation, but it can discolour and requires maintenance. We also wanted to integrate the garage door seamlessly into the façade. Linarte allowed us to achieve all of that while adding the aesthetic value of a wood-look finish.”
The choice of Linarte also brought practical advantages during construction. “With Linarte, we had greater flexibility in our planning,” Tom Jonckheere adds.
“If a blade is damaged, it can easily be replaced without major cost or disruption. Even after completion, the system remains adaptable: individual blades can be removed and reinstalled when additional cabling needs to be added.”
Visit www.renson.net for more information.
