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Nestled among the mature trees of the Kolthoven Estate in Epe, a historic country house has been given a new purpose. What was once a stately private residence has been transformed into a contemporary care facility where comfort, accessibility, and the overall experience take center stage. The transformation of this characterful building and its accompanying coach house demonstrates how heritage and modern architecture can go hand in hand, with aluminum solutions playing a key role. Aliplast Aluminum Systems. Ter Huurne Serres & Glassystemen was called upon to provide expertise in the engineering, manufacturing, delivery, and installation of the conservatory, walkway, and steel-look window frames.
The redevelopment, carried out by Haemveste Ontwikkeling B.V. in collaboration with the architectural firm Harmonische Architectuur and the contractor WBC Bouwgroep, resulted in a warm living environment for approximately twenty residents. Thirteen care studios with private bathrooms were integrated into the country house, while the coach house accommodates additional studios.
The architecture is based on a clear vision: creating a ‘warm home’ in which communal spaces play a central role. Residents’ daily lives largely take place in these shared living spaces, while the individual studios offer comfort and privacy.
A key feature of the project is the addition of a new walkway and a winter garden in the inner courtyard. These connect the country house to the coach house and form the very heart of the building. This is where everything comes together: light, views, and social interaction.
For the construction of the winter garden and walkway, the aluminum systems Max Light Steel and the combination of Aliplast’s VR2000+ and VR5000+. Ter Huurne Greenhouses & Glass Systems handled the entire process, from engineering and technical design through to production, delivery, and installation of the insulated garden room structure and the steel-look window frames.
The project placed high demands on both the technical detailing and the integration with the existing historic building. Thanks to precise engineering and custom fabrication, the new structures were seamlessly integrated into the existing architecture, combining transparency, insulation performance, and aesthetics.
The choice of aluminum was essential to preserving the building’s historic character without compromising on modern performance. The slim profiles create a transparent architectural design that maximizes natural light and establishes a strong visual connection with the surrounding greenery.
“In renovation and transformation projects such as the Kolthoven Estate, it is crucial to strike a balance between aesthetics and performance,” says Marc Mulders, Sales Manager for the Netherlands at Aliplast. “With our Max Light Steel profiles, we create the look of classic steel windows, but combine that with the technical advantages of aluminum.”
The Max Light System plays a key role in the design of the winter garden and walkway. Its sleek appearance and refined lines complement the original architecture of the country house perfectly, while the system also meets the most stringent requirements for insulation, airtightness, and durability.
With a U-value of 0.97 W/m²K, airtightness class 4, and fire-resistant certifications (EI30 and EW30/60), this aluminum profile offers performance that traditional steel windows cannot match. In addition, aluminum provides greater corrosion resistance and a longer service life, with minimal maintenance requirements.
“Steellook aluminum truly offers the best of both worlds,” says Marc. “It retains the robust, industrial character of steel, but performs significantly better in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability. That makes it particularly well-suited for this type of heritage project.”
In addition to the window profiles, a combination of Aliplast’s VR2000+ and VR5000+ greenhouse systems was chosen for the conservatory’s roof structure. Due to the size and complexity of the roof structure, a hybrid solution was necessary, in which both systems seamlessly merge into one another. Thanks to Ter Huurne’s experience with high-quality conservatory and glass structures, the design could be technically translated into a sustainable and refined final solution.
The VR2000+ It has been specifically developed for greenhouses, skylights, and domes with large spans and offers extensive possibilities in terms of design and technical integration. For example, reinforced beam and gutter profiles, integrated lighting, and various glazing options can be incorporated. Ventilation or smoke extraction via integrated skylights is also among the possibilities.
For the longer spans within the project, the VR5000+ System used. This system is designed for very large structures and provides additional structural strength without compromising aesthetics or transparency.
Thanks to this combination, an elegant glass canopy was created with minimal visual interruptions and maximum natural light. The gently sloping structure also ensures a pleasant indoor climate, perfectly suited for use as a communal living space.
“The combination of VR2000+ and VR5000+ makes it possible to design technically complex roofs with a high-quality aesthetic,” says Mulders. “The systems integrate seamlessly and offer architects maximum design freedom, even for larger spans.”
In addition to aesthetics and functionality, sustainability also played an important role in this project. Aliplast’s aluminum systems are Cradle to Cradle certified and contribute to the building’s energy efficiency.
The thermal performance of the profiles ensures that heat stays inside in the winter and is kept out in the summer. This not only results in greater comfort for residents, but also in lower energy consumption.
In addition, Aliplast offers an extensive color range with a paint warranty up to 25 years. Thanks to Qualicoat Seaside certification, the profiles can withstand harsh environmental conditions, which contributes to the project’s long service life.
The transformation of the Kolthoven Estate demonstrates how historic heritage can be successfully adapted to modern needs without losing its identity. Through a combination of thoughtful architecture and high-performance aluminum solutions, a sustainable and welcoming care environment has been created.
The walkway and winter garden serve as connecting links, both physically and socially. They bring light and space into the building and strengthen the sense of community among the residents.
“Projects like this perfectly illustrate where aluminum makes a difference today,” concludes Marc Mulders. “It allows us to preserve existing buildings while also preparing them for the future.”
Aliplast is not resting on its laurels when it comes to even larger spans. The company is currently developing a new veranda system, the VR8000, which excels in thermal performance and will offer new possibilities for architectural applications with even larger spans.
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