In this issue of Building Update, we are delighted to select Bartels & Vedder BV as our Engineering & Consultancy Company of the Year.
Black swans are rare across Europe, with only small pockets of feral populations and in the stock market, it is categorised as an exceptionally rare event, with often severe consequences. However, if you visit the inland rivers and streams of Oostknollendam, North Holland you will might chance across one, in the guise of a stunning, jet-black houseboat. The floating house has been named, ’Black Swan’ by its owners due to its striking exterior design, inspired by the traditional black barns of the low-lying North Holland polders. The first floor is designed below sea level, allowing prime vantage for river life and at night, with the large feature windows, it is the perfect spot for star gazing. The floating black swan is completely energy neutral and typifies the work of emerging Dutch engineering consultancy powerhouse: Bartels & Vedder BV.
The co-founders of Bartels & Vedder, Chiel Bartels and Jelle Vedder began building floating structures on water with the firm Aqua Life Nederland BV in 2004. Bartels & Vedder BV was later founded in 2011 and is now synonymous with innovative floating structures and buildings, such as engineering the largest floating office in the world: The Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR) and an incredible 6,000m2 floating ferry terminal in Malaysia.
Once only the stuff of dreams, Bartels & Vedder have brought floating villas, parks, ferry terminals and hotel into the known realm of imaginative engineering design.
The Dutch company specialises in bespoke, engineering infrastructures, land-based designs, floating structures and flood-proof buildings, with impressive projects all over the world from The Netherlands, UK, Dubai, to Malayasia.
The secret to the success of Bartels & Vedder is the in-house team of specialists, who execute integrated and interdisciplinary approaches to traditional construction, infrastructure, non-residential construction, offshore and floating projects.
We spoke to co-founder Jelle Vedder to find out more about this unique company, “We have a passion for what we do, priding ourselves on working as a team to complete these incredible projects, from parks, islands, jetties, bridges, villas, to hotels, from urban green spaces to utility projects.”
“With green biodiversity on the agenda, we have worked on projects such as: Steigerpark in Rotterdam. With a total overhaul of the area, the park will be 350 metres long, with phase 1 supported by nine concrete hulls. But also, durable and floodproof housing projects such as the project in Rhenen, where houses are built in a flood zone and designed in such a way, that damages during a flood are managed. Or floating houses in the project Schoonschip, where there will be no damage at all in case of flooding.”
“We design at a 50:50 ration for land/water designs and floating structures are generally speaking, still a niche area in construction, requiring ample capital and space. We are however known for our expertise in the area and seen as engineering and floating building/structure experts. We are fully versed in all the nautical details such as: stability, calculating drift forces from waves, and current and wind factors, to engineering access bridges and mooring facilities.”
“We always consider optimised, renewable energy sources, from solar and heat pumps and factor this into all our designs. Next to that we even engineer and check floating solar parks which provides solar energy to the surrounding area.”
“Looking towards the future, we want to grow the company as organically and sustainably as possible.”
Bartels & Vedder BV offer a bespoke end-to-end service that is world-leading across the current market. Bartels & Vedder BV can help with structural calculations, 3DBIM drawings, structural advice, monitoring and guidance, or just general structural advice.
For more information, please visit:
T +31 (0)6 422 398 53
info@bartelsvedder.nl
www.bartelsvedder.nl