Wim and Sylvie prefer quick, simple, and smart designs (BE)

The designs by Wim Baekelandt and Sylvie De Baets of Architektenburo exude space, light, and order. The pièce de résistance is their own home and office in Knokke-Heist (B), which stands out thanks its high ceilings, glass, and sleek lines.

‘We had to build very fast, so we opted for aerated concrete so that we could put the windows in place quickly and the building could be lived in. That saved us a lot of time. In many cases you have to wait for two to three months for brick for the facade, insulation, and joints. That’s why we chose E-Board®. Construction began in March 2014, and we moved in on 1 January 2015. The house wasn’t finished, but it could be lived in. Granted, it’s an unusual way of building. The building next door came later: ‘The idea was to build it at the same time, but that didn’t work out. It was built in a traditional way, with facing bricks from Vandersanden.’

Wim and Sylvie opted for E-Board. It was their first time working with the material. ‘E-Board also allowed us to finish the bottom of the ceiling at the entrance with brick. Complete brickwork is not an obvious option, but E-Board allowed us to do it. Plus, everything needed to be insulated, in the corners and around the windows too, otherwise there’d be a risk of condensation and cold bridges. That’s why this system is so good – it makes everything relatively simple.’

Wim was familiar with E-Board mostly through renovations: ‘It’s extremely smart. You leave the house just as it is and add insulation and rows of brickwork around it. And the result? You can insulate and renovate in just a few weeks It’s also a practical solution for new-build development. We regularly have customers interested in E-Board , and we refer them to Vandersanden.’

The contractor had not yet worked with E-Board : ‘We gave him support, and a representative from Vandersanden was on hand to advise us on site. If you aren’t familiar with the system, it’s useful to see how E-Board is correctly bonded and mechanically secured and how the stones are properly laid in the mortar. Vandersanden also has a number of instruction videos that you can watch. Once you’ve figured out how to work with it, everything should run smoothly. Layer by layer, just like with bricklaying, but faster.’