Superfast renovation with Clicwall

Project

269350

Status

Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS : existing completed examples

Project title

Superfast renovation with Clicwall

Full project title

Description

Using UNILIN's expertise in developing authentic and creative finishes, including true-to-life wood and concrete designs, Clicwall is instantly transformative and brings new design scope to commercial interiors. Already used in stores, hospitals, schools and public buildings; Clicwall wall panels are used to quickly erect prefabricated walls and partitions and allows immediate use of the space after installation. The system also offers excellent durability and ease of maintenance.

Where was your project implemented in the EU?

When was your project implemented?

Has your project benefited from EU programmes or funds?

Which programme(s) or fund(s)? Provide the name of the programme(s)/fund(s), the strand/action line as relevant and the year.

Please provide a summary of your project

On July 10th, 2020. The completely renovated Hotel Astoria opened its doors in De Haan. Yet, back in early March of that year, the building still looked like its old self and quite old-fashioned. It all started when Colin Dearman and Klaas Van Laeren saw an opportunity when they saw a beautiful Belle Epoque building across the street whilst having a bite to eat in the Leopoldlaan in De Haan. Hotel Astoria was looking for a buyer and they were interested. The biggest challenge to tackle? Time, because they wanted the hotel to open its doors by next summer. How did the luxury hotel undergo such an impressive transformation in such a short time? With the help of Clicwall, an easy-to-install, high-quality melamine-faced wallcovering system. The renovation covered a surface area of 3000 m², including 65 hotel rooms and was to be done in barely four months. Given the race against time, Clicwall seemed to be the obvious choice. But also the ease of installation, the clever design and the fact that it's a unique and affordable product, ensured Clicwall as the go-to product.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met

Clicwall is made from 100% recovered wood, more specifically pre-consumer wood. This is wood and wood waste that is no longer usable for someone else and we therefore save from incineration. Meaning that no tree is uprooted specifically for our production; we consciously choose wood from waste flows from the wood industry or thinned wood from sustainable forestry and verge management to produce our products. On top of that we try to be as sustainable as possible throughout the production.  When possible, our wood raw materials are being transported by ship to make use of our waterways as much as possible. Through this we take no less than 60 trucks off the roads.  Wood dust that is released during our production when sawing and sanding our boards as well as wood fractures, too small for production, are converted into green electricity and heat in our power plants (e.g. renewable heat source for our tumble dryers and presses).  The power plant however, produce more green electricity than is consumed by us, so the surplus of renewable energy is fed into the grid. In this way, we not only contribute to the sustainability of our own energy consumption, but also that of families and other companies.  Last but not least, Clicwall on its own is also a circular product. The panels as such can me mounted and demounted as pleased, thus being circular. This is particularly handy in modular units or temporary spaces. When the space is no longer needed, the Clicwall panels can be removed and reused in another project or location. 

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these have been met

Using UNILIN's expertise in developing authentic and creative finishes, including true-to-life wood and concrete designs, Clicwall is instantly transformative and brings new design scope to commercial interiors. Already used in stores, hospitals, schools and public buildings; Clicwall wall panels are used to quickly erect prefabricated walls and partitions and allows immediate use of the space after installation. The system also offers excellent durability and ease of maintenance with its easy-to-clean, splash-proof and scratch-resistant surface. All Clicwall panels feature both a patented Uniclic locking profile as well as an easy slide strip for rapid installation, making it one of the easiest wall panel systems available today and a highly suitable choice for fast installation. Notwithstanding the technical superiority to ensure long-term use in commercial environments, it is the flawless decorative effects that ensure Clicwall stands out. With a huge array of wood finishes that look and feel just like real wood, concrete effects that deliver impressively low-lustre for better authenticity, brushed metals and solid colours; the system offers unrivalled creative freedom.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion and how these have been met

You can erect partition walls and wall lining in no time. After installation the panels do not have to be finished and no time is lost with pointing or sanding; you can keep disruption to an absolute minimum. Neat and tidy installation as well as no dust make Clicwall ideal for working in stages, allowing you to keep your business open while work is underway. In the case of Astoria, they were able to win a lot of time the installation because the installation-process is a dry process and does not need additional works like sanding to further finish the walls. Because they chose Clicwall they were able to stick to the budget - it being an affordable option. But also, they were able maintain the, albeit ambitious, deadline and did not waste time unnecessarily resulting in a fully booked first summer season and thus creating job opportunities, tourism and spending in the region. 

Please give information on the results/impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for

Clicwall is unique on the market: the system is cleverly constructed, can be installed quickly and is also very affordable. The supplied corner profiles in the same colour as the wall, allow the space the perfect finish. The stylish designs also give architects and other creatives, plenty of opportunities to express their creativity.  Also, the product is ideal for renovations, especially when the deadline is tight. The ease of installation, the clever design and the fact that the space can be used immediately after installation, makes it possible even for the most ambitious projects to succeed and finish on time. 

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project

Because of the small time frame, all involved parties were involved to a maximum and had to make the impossible possible; the close cooperation between all parties is what made this project succeed. What's also great about using Clicwall? The production is local (in Belgium) and the specialised installer, Juunoo, is also from Belgium. 

Please highlight the innovative character of the project

The innovative character of the project is twofold. On the one hand the project is innovative because of the small time span it was completed in. Four months for an entire hotel renovation is not an everyday occurrence. On the other hand it's innovative because of the used product, Clicwall. The wallcladding system, already innovative on its own, also has a unique Uniclic system that allows super-fast installation. This induces the installation time rapidly in comparison to alternatives like Gyproc. Here it is a given that the works will have to be completed on multiple days whereas with Clicwall you can get the job done in one go. To top it off, the panels come in an arsenal of designs to choose from which with the know-how that comes through developing our high-quality Evola laminate products deliver impressive realism in wood, concrete, as well as other decorative effects. 

Please explain how the project led to results or learnings which could be transferred to other interested parties

Renovations are done on a daily basis, however usually within a (much) larger time frame. It could be useful, beneficial even, for companies and people in the renovation sector to know what options are out there in order to complete a project faster then what they are used to. This could give them opportunities such as more job possibilities (more projects due to less time-consuming and tedious renovations) and more creative freedom. Big renovation projects could also become less 'scary' because they become less cumbersome and less of a financial burden. This again might lead to quicker decision making with regards to future investments.  This is not only interesting for projects such as Hotel Astoria but also for projects that have arisen given the current situation (or the COVID-situation) in which modular and mobile units with rapid installation are/were needed on a large scale. But also for projects in which it is of importance to loose as little time as possible (e.g. stores, public places) or buildings that have to be kept open during the installation (e.g. schools, hospitals).  

Is an evaluation report or any relevant independent evaluation source available?

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the Awards more than once under the same category and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.