The Torenflat (high-rise apartment block) contains 484 apartments on central corridors on 19 residential levels. One of the important objectives of the renovation, which was carried out entirely whilst people were living in the building, was the elevation of all thermal bridges in the complex. This was tackled by enclosing the whole building in a ‘warm jacket’, a thermal skin comprising fully prefabricated aluminium façade units. By enclosing the building in this way, balconies were turned into loggias, thereby considerably increasing the duration of use of these outdoor spaces during the year. The traditional ‘layer cake’ appearance of the block has been transformed into a monolithic character.
From the Jury: The new thermal skin in aluminium and glass makes it possible to considerably extend use of this high-rise apartment block. This resolves the thermal bridges and the original balconies are added to the living area in the form of loggias. The prefab aluminium façade units were extremely well suited to carrying out such an operation. An apartment was given a new skin in one working day. It combines minimal investment with a maximum of social economic impact. An outstanding performance and a model for future renovation of energy-efficient apartment buildings of this type all over the world.
