Nine apartment blocks in Grenaa (Denmark) have undergone a thorough renovation – from old, worn-out apartment blocks into attractive homes with new balconies and energy-renovated facades. The residential area has gotten a true upgrade, not least thanks to the robust Rockpanel Natural facade boards that add a natural look and over time patinate to an organic reddish-brown shade.
The transformation is clearly visible in the Danish town Grenaa. The apartment blocks on De Lichtenbergs Vej have received a much-needed makeover. Inside, the apartments were given new floors, ceilings and walls, while the space distribution was optimized. Outside, balconies have been added, and the facade has been given both an energy and visual boost.
Used products:
Rockpanel Natural
Renovating a residential building: from worn-out to brand new
As the nine apartment blocks were quite a few decades old already, both the inner spaces, foundations and facades needed an overhaul, which led to an extensive makeover both inside and out.
A minor renovation was carried out on the blocks around the 80s-90s, and therefore it was now obvious to follow up with a thorough total renovation. Previously, just a single facade had gotten an energy renovation, and now all facades were brought to an up-to-date level of energy efficiency.
In addition, the facade could also use a visual update. What used to be worn-out and pastel-coloured facades, are now renewed with brand new, robust facade boards to get a natural and more contemporary look.
Efficient installation of energy-smart facade
And there have certainly been important changes also below the surface, says Patrick Andersen, project manager at Hustømrerne: “The apartment blocks already had one energy-optimized facade, but now the other facades were also given new insulation, which ensures an up-to-date energy renovation. The homes are insulated with ROCKWOOL Flexibatts insulation and clad with facade boards from Rockpanel.”
The ease and speed of installation of Rockpanel boards enabled the residents to return to their apartments more quickly after the renovation was completed. “Rockpanel facade boards are easy to process and handle, and it does not just streamline the process. It is also an occupational health advantage that the boards are not so heavy, because it contributes to an easier and safer handling and installation on the site,” says Patrick Andersen.
Matching the original look
The apartment blocks were clad with durable facade boards that give a natural and simple look and are close to the original building look. “Most of the facade is clad with Rockpanel Natural, which as the name suggests has a natural stone look and over time patinates to a golden brown color. Although these facade boards are untreated, they very easy to keep neat and requires almost no maintenance. It is coloured-through and does not need to be coated,” says Palle Ramsdal, project consultant at Rockpanel.
He continues: “In addition, our Rockpanel Structures have been used for the plinths. The expression is a bit reminiscent of concrete, as this was originally on the blocks, making the renovation true to the original.”
New cladding breathes new life into the area
The combination of the two designs results in a durable result and a natural expression, which helps to give the area a well-deserved boost for the benefit of the residents, who also get access to 187 new storage rooms with matching facade panels.
On De Lichtenbergs Vej, there is room for both young and old, and the renovation has helped to support this. The apartment blocks now has some new residential units for the youth, while some other apartments have access to lifts for the benefit of the elderly and disabled.
The worn-out apartment blocks have been transformed into nine modernized apartment blocks that have a clear mark on the surroundings. Here, the residents benefit from newly renovated homes and a facade that has received both an energy and a visual upgrade, which helps to give the whole area a boost.
