Jet black Linarte profiles in random composition as a visual calling card

A company working out technically sophisticated solutions wants to communicate this to the outside world with an appropriate visual business card. The same was true for RE-AVES in Helmond (NL). Managing Director Reinier Vogels bought a building a few years back to completely gut it and make it ready for the next 20 years (or more). Spaces were opened up, everything was finished down to the smallest detail, and the Linarte façade with random profiling was the crowning touch.

To catapult the company building in Helmond to the present day, RE-AVES contacted fellow native LXarchitects. The property was completely gutted. The interior evolved from closed to open, including the integration of glass sections. The workstations were modernised, the steel structure coated, and the concrete floor coated. And the façade also underwent a transformation. “When the building was erected, concrete bricks were really the trend in this region,” explains architect Bas Knapen. “That didn’t fit the look the client had in mind.” 

“Besides the strategic location, the dynamic façade is a strong asset of our building.”

Bas Knapen - LXarchitecten

LXarchitects explored the possibilities. Bas compared materials and colours, and also considered wooden variants. “The choice eventually fell on aluminium combined with stucco. This provides a nice contrast, isn’t as commonplace, and will stand the test of time. The neutral black and white colour palette also repeats itself in the interior, where we added warmth through natural materials.”

Visually immediately convinced

The architect deliberately sought a changing rhythm for the new façade. A private home in the city with a Linarte façade visually convinced its client. “Bas’s 3D renderings and samples did give us a good idea,” says client Reinier Vogels. “Still, we did have to wait a little before we could see how it was going to turn out, given the large surface area. So far, we are very satisfied and get very positive feedback. In time, we want to rent out the upper floor to other businesses. I am sure that our dynamic façade, in addition to its strategic location, will be an additional asset in this regard. Our building is a real eye-catcher in the greenery.”

Close cooperation between architect and construction specialist Storax

To say that Renson partner Storax is familiar with the Linarte system is an understatement. They were happy to share those years of expertise with the architect. Storax project manager Allard van de Wielen visited LXarchitects to discuss the design. “We started by looking at what substructure was needed on the existing masonry and drew it up. We neatly solved the sharp point in the building with flashing. By going over the technical drawing together and talking it through, everyone knew exactly what to expect. We also brought along our case of profile samples to show exactly how the product works. That is working together in trust.”

Smooth execution according to plan

LXarchitects chose random profiling and determined a nice mix. Storax’s craftsmen neatly adopted this design and finished between the frames with flashing. Fabian Greveling (Storax) explains, “Our installers followed the drawing and alternated narrow, wide, and border profiles according to the design. All the profiles, accounting for 78 m², were placed within five days. Smooth installation is one of Linarte’s advantages. You have to think of it as a kind of accordion with 2 mm margin (narrower and wider) per profile. So if there are already frames, you can still slide various profiles in and out to create the desired look. That gives us more freedom in execution. Ease of installation is also a strong argument in new buildings, in addition to the vertical character that makes the façade easy to clean and the possibility of integrating techniques. Here, for example, cables from the embedded security cameras run neatly behind the profiles, for a sleek result.”