Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
The principal embodied-carbon strategy disclosed for De Sfinx is the selection of durable materials with a long service life, particularly the ceramic facing brick used throughout the expressive waterfront facade. The architects specifically chose ceramic brick because of its proven performance in Amsterdam's wet environment. The material's durability is particularly relevant because the building is located directly beside the water. Rather than relying on a short-life facade system requiring frequent replacement, the project uses a conventional ceramic masonry construction intended to remain in service for a long period. The WF HV Henna Bont brick from Rodruza was selected for the project. Rodruza confirms this exact product and article number 115440 as the facade brick used at De Sfinx.
Another material strategy is the use of K-VISION Trend 45 PVC window frames supplied and installed by Kumij. The manufacturer describes the system as an insulating and low-maintenance solution, while specifically confirming its use at De Sfinx. The project's overall material impact was assessed through an MPG calculation. The supplied calculation gives an MPG of 0.681, with the largest contribution coming from the production phase.
Operational Emissions / Energy
De Sfinx incorporates several documented measures aimed at reducing operational energy demand. The project provides 63 social housing apartments with an energy-efficient residential environment, and Dura Vermeer describes the building as an energy-efficient contemporary housing project. The project also has:
- Underfloor heating in the apartments.
- Large windows and generous glazed openings that provide substantial daylight and views.
- Well-insulated K-VISION Trend 45 window frames.
- A relatively compact apartment-building configuration.
- A communal courtyard and outdoor spaces that contribute to the residential environment.
- BENG calculations and air-tightness testing were undertaken for the project.
Importantly, Nibag states that its BENG calculations and air-tightness measurements confirmed that the homes comfortably meet the applicable BENG requirements. Kumij also specifically describes the K-VISION Trend 45 frames used at De Sfinx as providing good insulating performance and a low-maintenance solution.
Service and maintenance emissions
The strongest strategy here is material durability and reduced maintenance. The architects chose ceramic brick specifically because it has a long history of use in Amsterdam and can withstand the project's demanding waterfront conditions. The approach is deliberately low-tech: rather than using a more complex facade system, the building relies on a durable masonry material capable of remaining exposed for a long period. The facade is one of the building's principal architectural elements. The curved masonry, special bonding patterns, setbacks, and detailing mean that replacing the facade would be both materially and architecturally demanding. The project also uses K-VISION Trend 45 window frames, which Kumij describes as a low-maintenance solution. The extensive masonry detailing was also developed through samples and test walls before construction. This helped the project team resolve the curved brickwork and detailing before full-scale construction, reducing the risk of remedial work.
Afterlife
De Sfinx is a newly constructed residential building rather than a conversion or adaptive-reuse project. There are, however, some characteristics that support continued residential use. The building contains 63 apartments of different types, ranging from compact studios to larger three-bedroom apartments. The living spaces are described as relatively freely divisible, and the repeated structural/grid logic helped make the curved facade economically and technically feasible.
Key products in low carbon design
