erve volkerink
the renovation of
erve volkerink
During the restoration we used or reused materials as much as possible. The products had to leave as small a footprint as possible.
renovating a national monument
After purchasing the farm in 2012, we took a year to experience what it is like to live here. Only after that year did we start designing the layout of the farm and the yard. The monument guided the choices we made: we wanted to protect the monumental atmosphere and the history of the farm and make it visible (again). Sustainability also played a major role in our plans.
We have designed our plans together with an architect, a construction supervisor, the municipality, the Oversticht and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. For a year and a half, new specialists continued to join the kitchen table, such as an energy expert and a structural engineer. We enjoyed this team design and design process so much that we also tackled the construction process as a team.
sustainability and authenticity
Sustainability was an important theme during the renovation. We preferred to reuse old material and local products.
For example, trusses and woodwork that were too damaged have been replaced by wood rescued from demolished farms in the region. The woodwork in the bathroom of the B&B comes from the B&B's own yard: there stood an oak tree in the yard that was sick and had to be cut down for safety reasons. The wood of this oak is made into beautiful bathroom furniture. The countertop in the old kitchen comes from a farm in a nearby hamlet and has been carefully renovated.
The antique tiles with the tulip vases that can now be seen behind the fireplace were collected over eight years from private individuals, thrift stores and flea markets.
The woodwork is painted in original colors with linseed oil paint. This is a natural paint that was also used in the past. This paint is made from the seeds of the flax flower. This is a small blue flower that grew a lot in Overijssel, and is now increasingly cultivated again. The rest of the plant is used to make insulation material. We used this insulation material in the walls of the farm. This way the entire plant is used.
And we can continue with details like this... we could fill a book with it.
