Building Value

archi tectumFebruary 2008 | edition 9 | International Magazine Koramic Clay Roof Tiles

Clay Roof Tiles

archi tectum

Dear Reader,

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2008 Spring edition of our Architectum magazine. Since the

fi rst edition was published six years ago, we have always tried to show you different applications of our

KORAMIC clay roof tiles: from a traditional roofi ng material to modern wall cladding.

In this edition, we would like to point out some extraordinary wall cladding projects from Belgium, the

Netherlands and Czech Republic. Belgium and the Netherlands, especially, have a long tradition in using

clay roof tiles for wall cladding. This time we also have a very interesting wall cladding project on the

Czech fi lm studios in Prague.

On the basis of two international projects in the USA and in Japan we want to illustrate the creative

side of roof design with Aléonard traditional clay plain tiles. The wide colour range allows a multitude of

different blends, specially adapted to the house style and the surrounding.

Once again we hope we have given you an inspiring selection of our product mix.

Enjoy your voyage of discovery through Architectum!

Franz Kolnerberger

Export Manager

publisher

Wienerberger AG

editorial staff

Christian Van Thuyne (Belgium),

Isabelle Bevernage (Belgium),

Franz Kolnerberger (Export),

Anne-Raphaële Porcherot (France),

Laëtitia Deviterne (France),

Jacqueline Dietsch (Germany),

Geert Kamps (Holland),

Monika Sikorska (Poland)

editor

Staf Bellens (Belgium),

Pavel Stojar (Czech Republic),

Jean-Pierre Cousin (France),

Gerard Halama (Germany),

Tom de Vries (Holland),

Caroline Kruit (Holland),

Yasushi Matsuyama (Japan),

Andrzej Stolarczyk (Poland),

Erik Alschuler (USA),

Stuart Matthews (USA)

photography

Peter Verplancke (Belgium),

Ester Havlová (Czech Republic),

Laurent Cheviet (France),

Gerard Halama (Germany),

Hubaer Kusters (Holland),

Hejber & Maryks Promotions (Poland),

Mark Hill (USA),

Fred Martin (USA),

Durston Saylor (USA)

co-ordination & realization

Stefan Claeys

Sabine Merlevede

design & prepress

Ikaros Communications (Belgium)

press

Deckers Druk (Belgium)

editorial office

Wienerberger Export Division

Wienerberger House

Ter Bede Business Center

B - 8500 Kortrijk

T +32(0) 56 26 43 31

F +32 (0) 56 26 43 32

info@koramic-rooftiles.com

www.koramic.com

This magazine from

appears in Dutch, English, German,

French and Polish.

ARCHITECTUM is distributed in Austria,

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Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,

Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland,

Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malaysia,

Norway, Philippines, Poland, Singapore,

Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand,

United Kingdom and United States.

3

1 A VILLAGE WITHIN A TOWN > p04-05

Distinctive clay facing from top to bottom

2 DIFFERENT LIVING > p06-07 Living and working in a tower and a tiled barrel vault

3 PRACTICALITY MEETS ELEGANCE > p08-09 Largest studios in Europe - pride of the Czech dream factory

4 SUNSET, SC > p10-11 Lake house near Greenville, South Carollina

5 THE IMAGE OF A VILLAGE > p12-13 Tempest tiles give a warm ambience to a meeting place

6 SCHOOL IN THE LOCAL STYLE > p16-17 Complex design realised within budget

7 AN EXERCISE IN STYLE > p24-25 At home in the Belle Époque

8 DISTINCTIVE WITHIN THE WHOLE > p26-27 Basic shapes united by use of a flat tile

Highlights

31 2

67

4 85

>A village

within a townDistinctive clay facing from top to bottom

[France]

5

The Stift retirement home at Marlenheim is a new construction that was

built after a competitive architectural design tender. It has replaced two

older homes. The contemporary architecture is integrated with the sur-

rounding town, while stating its own identity in slate engobed clay.

New architecture – continuity in the town

This retirement home is designed to accommodate 75 residents, fi fteen of

whom are housed in a unit for people exhibiting the symptoms of Alzheimer.

It replaces two buildings with a history of charitable donations (Hoerter and

Sainte Famille) that have anchored them fi rmly in the community spirit of

Marlenheim.

The entrance courtyard opens out into the town, creating a square where the

lives of the residents and their visitors can merge together calmly with the lives

of the people of Marlenheim. Visual transparency and lines of sight have been

created for this space, while still closing off the areas that had to be there for

the safety of the residents.

Ms. Fritschmann, who runs the establishment, stresses the way the ambien-

ce has changed. It is nothing like the living conditions they had previously, in

locations that were sombre and poorly adapted. The living areas where the

residents start their day face eastwards. They are at the bottom of the square

and are bathed in sunlight. This has a benefi cial effect on the dynamism of all

the residents.

For the director, the slate-coloured clay roof tiles and the light grey ArGeTon

façade plates – standing out strikingly amid the dominant red tile of the sur-

roundings – give this building its own identity.

Retaining discrete volumes

The architect had to treat the project as if it were a series of small-scale houses,

so as to minimise the visual impact of the 4,000 m2 of new fl oor area. The most

diffi cult aspect was reconciling the need for thermal and climatic comfort - and

the costs - with this architectural consideration. Because of the seismic activity

of the region, the structure had to be built in reinforced concrete. This offers an

effective solution to the problem of acoustic insulation between the accomo-

dation units. The slenderness of the concrete slabs also limits the volume and

overall height of the building, in line with the restrictions of the POS zoning plan.

Parts of the façades are in roughcast concrete, in a similar fashion to facings

typical of the Alsace region, whereas the gables overlooking the square are

covered with light grey façade plates with warm nuances, complementing the

slate-fi nish tile layout of the roof.

Tile layout as an architectural feature

The roof sections are subdivided by a central gutter in such a

way that each residential module appears to have an individual

roof of its own, giving an appearance of a cluster of houses

grouped together. Calculating the layout of the roof tiles

without having to cut any of the tiles, with the central gutter

being exactly the same width as one tile, demanded extreme

precision in the work of the Olland roofi ng company. The buil-

ders were also able to build the shell of the building suffi ciently

accurately.

The wall cladding may be less important, but it was created

by the company Marwo with the same geometric rigour as

the roofi ng and is evident to the extent that it provides visual

continuity with the surrounding building, from the roof right

down to ground level, thereby also reducing the apparent

height. The terracotta façade plates, light grey in colour, fi t in

perfectly with the slate tones of the roof covering in fl at Actua

Duplex clay roof tiles.

Project Stift retirement home (formerly the

Hoerter and Sainte Famille residences),

Marlenheim (France)

Architect K’nL Architecture, Mathieu Laperrelle,

Rouffach

Main contractor OPUS 67, Strasbourg

Roofi ng contractor Olland, Haguenau

Clay roof tile Koramic Migeon Actua Duplex,

slate engobe

Different livingLiving and working in a tower and a tiled barrel vault>

[The Netherlands]

7

The house that architect Julius Bosma works and lives in with his family

speaks a language of clear shapes, simple use of materials and austere

details, making it a conspicuous point of calm in the richly varying archi-

tecture of Sneek’s De Oudvaart district. The design comprises a union of

a rectangular black brick tower with a barrel vault that is covered in clay

roof tiles.

Beyond the usual shapes

The studio’s main activity is designing detached and semi-detached houses.

Most of the 150 that he has designed over the last 15 years, primarily for project

developers, have been built in a traditional way. But when a larger house was

needed for his growing family, he allowed himself a design that went beyond the

usual. In a reaction to traditional thinking about house-building, he developed

the ‘different living’ concept based on different fl oor plans, shapes, choices

of materials and construction. For his own residential and living accommoda-

tion, he combined these aspects with a fascination for towers and the rounded

shape of the Nissen hut. Bosma says, “This shape combines maximum volume

with minimum surface.” There is a three-storey black brick entrance tower, plus

a semi-cylindrical main volume faced with natural red clay roof tiles and end

walls faced with patinated zinc sheeting.

Different living

Combining a tower with a barrel vault allows non-standard fl oor plans. This is

seen particularly in the layout of the semi-cylindrical main volume. The main

load-bearing construction comprises four composite trusses of laminated Rus-

sian larch, dividing the layout into three equal areas. Bosma also subdivided this

area lengthwise with a sand-lime brick wall which, with steel coupling girders

between the trusses, supports the concrete fl oor of the fi rst storey.

Mastic to keep the upper roof tiles watertight

For the powerful but austere lines of the architecture, Bosma

chose three dominant colours and materials: black bricks for

the tower masonry, silver-grey for the zinc end walls of the half

cylinder and clay for its roof. Narvik FD clay roof tiles go from

ground level to the ridge. There are no gutters: gravel traps

at ground level provide drainage. The roof tiles are screwed

onto battens, part of the wooden box panels that – along with

insulation, fi nishing, foils and laths – were pre-fabricated to the

exact curvature required. Each section includes a large pivo-

ted window to let daylight into the house. To prevent rainwater

from blowing in at the almost horizontal ridge, the ridges and

the top three rows of roof tiles have been sealed.

Uniform style

Bosma used the same shapes for the detached carport and

storage area as for the main building. The rounded shape used

here has a smaller radius, so smaller pantiles were used: Pot-

telberg Tempest Tile 44, in the same natural red colour as the

house’s Narvik FD.

Project Living/working accommodation

at the Duiker, Sneek (The Netherlands)

Client The Bosma family

Architect Julius Bosma, Sneek

Main contractor Aannemersbedrijf Plantinga,

Scharnegoutum

Roofi ng contractor Onderhouds- en dakdekkerbedrijf Zagt,

Oldeboorn

Clay roof tile Koramic Narvik FD, natural red (house)

and Koramic Pottelberg Tempest Tile 44,

natural red (storage/carport)p

8

Practicality meets elegance

Largest studios in Europe - pride of the Czech dream factory

> [Czech Republic]

9

Prague’s Barrandov studios are as important to Czech cinema as

Hollywood is in America. Founded in 1931, they now have an excellent

name in world fi lm-making. Since last year the Czech dream factory also

boasts the largest studio in Europe, the work of Hans-Paul Architects,

proving that even large practical buildings need not look monotonous or

boring. The main feature is an unusual façade of Koramic Migeon Actua.

Barrandov Studios

The Barrandov district, named after French palaeontologist Joachim Barrande,

has an individual charm. Film studios were founded in the Thirties on a terrace

above Prague by Vaclav Havel, father of the former Czech president, aiming

to create an architecturally modern garden town. A restaurant was soon follo-

wed by villas for fi lm stars and businessmen. More importantly, modern studios

for making fi lms with sound were built. The whole studio district became an

example of functionalist architecture.

The creators today had to pay special attention to this, as well as to the requi-

rements for a building to meet the high demands of the world’s fi lm-makers.

The challenge for Filip Ziegler and his company Hans-Paul Architects was by

no means easy.

Massive and blunt façade

At the premises of these legendary studios, the attractive large building took

shape in which the new studio is located. It has been built with moderate and

practical shapes but it is still elegant, with an eye-catching red covering giving

the large façade a soft structure.

The front wall is over 100 m long, interlaid with three solid blocks creating pillars

of grey bricks supporting the whole mass. They have blue doorways to allow

entrance of fi lm sets and technology. The 40 m side walls and the 100 m back

wall are even more blunt, the red façades broken only by grey

brick technical rooms with staircases and an overhead corridor

joining up to other fi lm studios. There are no windows, as light

could be a problem when fi lming.

“We used 36,000 m2 of clay roof tiles for the facings. It is

a very nice material, easily fi tted and only needing a minimum

of care,” says architect Filip Ziegler. Paradoxically, Koramic

clay roof tiles were only used for the façades; the roof is of a

different material.

Everything for the needs of fi lm makers

The interior is strictly suited to its purpose: a modern sound-

proofed fi lm studio of 4,164 m2 and 14 m in height, offering

fi lm makers ideal resources and comfort. Even the wooden

fl oor is practical, allowing easy installation of sets. Unique

dismountable soundproof walls allow the 100 m to be divided

into three separate studios, each with its own entrance.

The interior architect was only able to give his fantasy free rein

in the space for the fi lm makers. The boldness of other parts of

the building contrasts with the brightly coloured accessories in

the areas for technicians and actors. The corridor fl oor design

looks like a strip of fi lm.

Project Max Film Studio, Barrandov Studios,

Prague (Czech Republic)

Client Barrandov Studios, Prague

Architect Hans-Paul Architects, Prague

Koramic partner Beleta, Prague

Clay roof tile Koramic Migeon Actua, 60% natural red,

40% multiblend

Sunset, SCLake house near Greenville, South Carolina

[USA]

>

11

The North American importer of the Koramic range of clay roof tiles has

the opportunity to be involved in many truly magnifi cent projects. The

Lake house in South Carolina stands out as one of their most interesting

roofs. Judging from the pictures, it is clear that it must have been

particularly challenging.

Victorian braised blue blend for muted shades

They were familiar with the client, the designer and builder from a previous

project, and knew that he liked to push the design envelope. He described the

site as being a challenge. The house was to be situated on a narrow shoreline

surrounded by steep, heavily wooded cliffs. The approach is along a winding

drive with a very steeply curved descent to the house. The initial view is actually

from above, so the client did not want the attention of the driver distracted by

an overly colourful roof. When the house is viewed from across the lake, he also

wanted the whole structure to blend into the surroundings; the roof therefore

needed to use muted tones. Old Hollow Tile 451 was suggested as the tile

profi le. The Victorian braised blue blend would provide the muted shades and

so this soon became the profi le of choice.

Avoiding standard concepts

The next challenge was the detailing and installation. With a designer who

loves to create interesting shapes and avoid the concept that the ridge should

run parallel to the eaves and the gables should simply be at right angles, you

need an installer who loves a challenge. Initial work had to be based on the

model of the house, as plans were not drawn until the project was actually on

the ground and building was well advanced. It was far from clear how it could

be done, but past experience with the 451 pantile had shown how fl exible the

installation can be – how exposures can be shuffl ed and even how the gauge

lines can be moved through small curvatures and over eye-

brows etc. – and so they were reasonably sure it was possible.

That is, if good installers could be found.

Geometry and algebra

This house is in a remote location and experienced roof tile

installers are thin on the ground, especially ones who are pre-

pared to undertake a project of this complexity. Luckily, the

site superintendent had some friends who were available for

work for the summer. They met up on site and the relevant roof

tiling theory and the basis of battening were discussed. The

installers picked it up quickly and installation soon began on

the few simple areas. Inspired by geometry and algebra, they

quickly picked up the idea of varying exposures and shuffl ing

the gauge. By the end of the summer the roof was fi nished,

a testament to the practical usefulness of all that geometry,

algebra and calculus that sometimes seems so impractical

when viewed from the schoolroom.

Project name Lake house near Greenville,

South Carolina (USA)

Architect/designer/main contractor

Kunstwerke Inc., Scott Kunst,

Simpsonville, South Carolina

Roofi ng contractor Local contractor

Koramic partner Northern Roof Tiles, Ontario (Canada)

Clay roof tile Koramic Pottelberg Old Hollow Tile 451,

Victorian braised blue

12

The image of a villageTempest tiles give a warm ambience

to a meeting place

>

[Belgium]

13

Clubs and associations play a key role in local society. Architect Dirk De

Meyer therefore took great care in designing and detailing the meeting

centre in Schuiferskapelle. He succeeded in integrating the industrial buil-

ding in the village centre.

Reconciled with the surroundings

Firstly, the architects’ offi ce examined whether the existing buildings on the cor-

ner plot could be converted into a meeting centre containing function rooms, a

party hall, a lending section belonging to the library, offi ces for the town offi cials

and space for services. However, that did not prove to be possible. Everything

was therefore demolished and replaced by a completely new structure.

Given the limited time for construction and the restricted budget, the architect

chose to use a modular steel construction employing panels. The question then

arose immediately of how to reconcile such a relatively large building with its

surroundings, in this case a typical village centre.

Z shape with pent roof

The solution was as simple as it was ingenious. The architect designed two

volumes with a pent roof, arranged in a Z shape. The roof slope clearly fi ts in

as an extension to the row of saddle roofs, while also providing the maximum

amount of usable space. The two parts bound a square that is suitable for all

sorts of village activities.

The roof and walls were covered with natural red Tempest Tile 44. “Using the

same material resolves the dichotomy between the roof and the wall, creating a

single coherent volume.” Because it is a public building, the walls are protected

at the bottom with a prefabricated concrete skirt.

The building belongs here

“Thanks to the scale and the many accessories, you are able

to create a wide range of shapes using Tempest tiles. We

arranged all the dimensions of the steel structure to suit the

clay roof tiles, so that not a single one had to be cut. The

tender was based on this detailed plan, containing placement

instructions down to the last millimetre.”

“That raised a few eyebrows locally at fi rst – what, roof tiles on

the wall? But after a few weeks they had already forgotten that

the building was there. It simply belongs here.”

Project Meeting centre, Schuiferskapelle

(Belgium)

Client Tielt town authority

Architect DDM Architectuur – Dirk De Meyer, Tielt

Roofi ng contractor Joris Laethem, Wingene

Clay roof tile Koramic Pottelberg Tempest Tile 44,

natural red

14

Restoration of

Schloss CastellHistoric building preservation: shape before colour

[Germany]

15

Historic building preservation is not merely a building discipline: it can

also be an important part of family life - if you live in one! At Schloss

Castell, not far from Nuremberg, old building materials obviously need to

be used. Maintenance and care are as much part of the picture for a blue-

blooded family as management, leadership and representation are.

Roof beams replaced

The current master is Count Ferdinand of Castell-Castell. As well as the oldest

bank in Bavaria, the family has forestry and agricultural interests and wines that

have won numerous prizes. The foundations of the castle, built in 1691 with

stone sourced from old castle buildings destroyed in the Peasants’ Wars of

1525, are on tough ground with gypsum layers and silty clay that is perfect for

viticulture.

The roof was last restored in the Fifties, so thorough restoration was going to

be needed. Two main channels were particularly badly affected and the roof

was becoming increasingly leaky in other places. Structural tests showed that

some of the joists, rafters and some ceiling beams below would need replacing

or strengthening. Under a protective second roof, the old clay tile roofi ng was

removed and put into temporary storage. The roof beams were then restored.

Conservative or complete renovation?

Although others advocated complete renovation, the Count wanted to retain

part of the old roofi ng. “Finally,” says Count Ferdinand, “they agreed that roof

tiles that had lasted for 200 years plus would probably last another 100.” One

beaver tile from the old roof was emblazoned with a date of 1687: well over 300

years old and had surely been re-used several times already. The old roof tiles

were mostly used for re-tiling south-facing sections and inner courtyard areas.

Geometry and surface structures come to the fore, rather than colours. The key

factor in choosing the new roof tiles was a visit to Koramic, who showed that

everything was possible. A total of eight types plus a special slim ridge tile were

needed. The builders looked through the beaver tile display gallery and selec-

ted roof tiles with a slight coal-fi red effect (obtained by denying oxygen during

fi ring, available in fi nely-nuanced intensities), using an asymmetric shield shape

and basket-handle arch as the basic pattern. The surfaces have six lengthwise

ridges and two tapering water guides. As well as the standard 18 cm roof tiles,

3/4 and 7/8 width beaver tiles were also ordered.

Various roof tiles were used for the completely renovated north, west and

east-facing areas, in one width and two lengths. The narrower roof tiles were

primarily for mixing in with older roof tiles. These areas show a

full and lively range of colours and shapes. A genuinely beau-

tiful object that demanded a highly concentrated effort for such

a large area from the artistically fastidious builders.

Spanning the centuries

You might imagine that much of the roof is 100 to 300 years

old. The new tiles on this roof have a good chance of becoming

very old too. The coal-fi red beaver tiles, with their multiplicity

of shapes and varying lengths, bring the roof area convincingly

to life. Denkmalpfl ege – the historic building conservation

society – was pleased with the results.

Beaver tile gallery display: nothing is impossible

The “Koramic Manufaktur” beaver tile gallery is a modular

system construction kit for historic and exclusive beaver tiles.

Historic building restorers and discriminating builders can put

together the exclusive beaver tiles they want from this product

range. There are fi ve sizes, eight shapes, six standard thick-

nesses, ten engobe colours, traditional glazes, various clay

colours, including distinct intensities of coal-fi red tiles, at least

nine standard surface effects and numerous extras such as

concave or convex beaver tiles: the gallery shows that nothing

is impossible.

Project Restoration of Schloss Castell,

Nuremberg (Germany)

Client Count Ferdinand of Castell-Castell

Architect Müller + v. Soden Architekten BDA, Fulda

Supporting structure Mittnacht Beratende Ingenieure, Würzburg

Roofi ng contractor (gatehouse and side aisles):

Feßler & Sohn Bedachungsunternehmen

GmbH, Kitzingen

(main castle):

Handschuh GmbH, Schweinfurt

Clay roof tile Koramic Eisenberg Beaver Tiles,

various colours

16

School in the

local style Complex design realised within budget

>

[The Netherlands]

17

The pyramidal roof of a “stolpboerderij” farm is a distinctive architectural

element in the landscape of North Holland. For architect Kees Willems of

architects and advisers Teeuwisse & Willems in The Hague, these specifi c

local shapes were the inspiration for the design of the primary school De

Zevensprong in Heerhugowaard.

Two-storey pyramids

The demography of many 1960s residential areas has now stabilised. Semi-

permanent schools were built in the new areas to handle rapidly growing

numbers of children – temporary buildings that are now at the end of their

lifecycle. More durable schools are now being built at a scale suited to the

new, steadier situation. De Zevensprong primary school in Heerhugowaard was

recently entirely re-housed. Teeuwisse & Willems designed two-storey pyramids

at three corners of a rectangular plot: 6 classrooms for the older classes. A

larger fourth pyramid for communal use extends beyond the rectangular

boundary. Two fl at-roofed classrooms are being added for the younger children.

The dominant pyramid shapes, inspired by local “stolpboerderij” farms, are

faced with slate-coloured clay roof tiles. The fl at Migeon Actua has also been used

vertically as wall cladding for the adjacent façades.

Playful nature

The load-bearing structure of the distinctive roofs consists of four truss legs

running over the ribs from the cap down to the ground. Galvanised steel

shoes link the wooden legs together and anchor them to concrete plinths. The

pyramidal shape has vertical façades at the foot and is not fi lled at the top due

to the maximum height defi ned in the zoning plan, so the laminated girders

protrude beyond the body. To add a playful note to both interior and exterior,

the truncated pyramid has a pitched roof. Large aluminium glass fronts at the

corners of the pitched roof allow daylight in. The second fl oor

runs around the walls, creating a parapet. The lower panel of

the glass lets daylight into the lower-fl oor classrooms. Skylights

have also been included where the roof covers the ground

fl oor. Zinc-clad sections between the pyramidal roofs contain

toilets and storage areas.

Integral design

Numerous interconnecting shapes and the materials used

make the design of De Zevensprong relatively complex. Anyone

familiar with the strict rules about budgeting in education will

be surprised at a design like this. Teeuwisse & Willems have a

lot of experience in designing schools. Above all, the working

method at the start of a project allows optimum use to be

made of the available budget. Project architect Christian

Janssen says, “We’re advisers as well as architects, so there’s

a lot of in-house expertise. Calculations are made for the

preliminary ideas - an integral design approach to let us make

the most of the available budget.”

Project De Zevensprong primary school,

Heerhugowaard (The Netherlands)

Client Stichting Valete, Alkmaar

Architect Teeuwisse & Willems architecten

en adviseurs, The Hague

Project architects Kees Willems and Christian Janssen

Main contractor De Geus Bouw, Broek op Langedijk

Roofi ng contractor Pannendekkersbedrijf D. Pool, Winkel

Clay roof tile Koramic Migeon Actua, slate engobe

18

> [Japan]

19

Normandy comes to JapanNobele Villa Garden project for Shozan

Yasushi Matsuyama, the president of the company that owns the project, lived in

Paris for over four years. He travelled around much of France and fell for the charm

of the roof tiles there, which are quite different from Japanese black roof tiles. He

was particularly impressed during a trip north by the Aléonard plain roof tile and the

splendour of times gone by that it refl ects, leaving him with a real desire to use it in

his own constructions.

20

French roof tiles on a Japanese building

In 1996, Shozan started construction of the building called

Farm Normandie. This was opened in July 1997 and its func-

tion at the time was as a restaurant. In May 2007, the business

strategy was changed and Farm Normandie was rebuilt to

become a wedding reception hall with the name Nobele

Villa Garden. They currently accept just two reservations for

marriages per day and it is becoming popular as a place where

private wedding parties can be held.

The name Nobele Villa Garden is a coined word meaning

‘noble cottage’. A temple has been built within the same

structure and both the marriage ceremony and the wedding

reception can therefore be held in a single building. Inside there

is a bar for drinks and plenty of room for relaxation.

Blending two traditions

An old Japanese private house next to Farm Normandie was

acquired and converted into a guest room and bridal suite.

This old private house had originally been built as a purely

Japanese structure with Japanese roof tiles. The interior was

completely reworked by Shozan and the external style of the

house was also changed from a traditional Japanese style to

a French style by replacing the existing roof tiles with Aléonard

plain roof tiles. The resulting harmonization of a Japanese style

with a French style is something they are very proud of.

The Nobele Villa Garden is located near the famous Kinkaku-ji

temple in Japan, which is surrounded by an area of natural

beauty. Nobele Villa Garden therefore has a good situation, with green sur-

roundings and splendid scenery. The red shades of the Aléonard plain roof tiles

complement the natural greens of the locality.

Constructor’s comments

“When we did the repair work on the house, we constructed it as a Japanese-

style building but with the French clay roof tiles. In order to allow the Aléonard

Patrimony plain roof tiles to be used and guarantee that the roof would be

waterproof, the guest house was roofed more steeply than the original building.

As a result, we were able to produce a wonderful roof that fi ts in with a French

looking scenery. The customer is very pleased with the atmosphere this has

created, and all the members of the construction team are also very happy

with it.”

Project Bridal suite guest house, Kyoto (Japan)

Client SHOZAN Co. Ltd. - Yasushi Matsuyama

Architect Hiroshi Yagyu

Main contractor Mizuno Construction Co. Ltd.

Roofi ng contractor Karani Roofi ng Tiles

Clay roof tile Koramic Aléonard Plain Tile Patrimony 311 Handcrafted,

3 sizes, 1/3 Kent red, 1/3 vineyard black, 1/3 lichen green

>

21

Owlsnest, Long IslandPrivate residence in Lloyd Harbor, NY

> [USA]

22

23

Perched on a bluff overlooking a sheltered inlet on Long Island’s fabled

Gold Coast, this house faced the classic conundrum of the north shore

home: the grand sea views are on the north side of the building, but the

home owner required ample space, views and natural sunlight for all the

main rooms.

Sun-trap concept

Building on the work of great designers such as Lutyens, the architects Jim and

Laura Smiros adapted the classic “sun-trap” concept. The X-shaped plan deftly

provides abundant sunlight and good views for each arm of the building, while

providing effi cient and intimate circulation around the centre of the building.

The house radiates out from the centre of a tightly defi ned oval fi eld of formal

gardens, nestling in the verdant natural setting.

Aesthetics

The large, semi-rural site suggested a refi ned rusticity. The distinctly Tudor and

Cotswold architecture incorporates a smooth limestone for the base and the

door surrounds, counterpointed by the rough granite rubble walls of the ground

fl oor. The stones were painstakingly selected to achieve just the right combina-

tion of enticing warmth and seasoned comfort. Warm stucco tones clothe the

fi rst fl oor and the gables. The rustic clay tile roof is crowned with a magnifi cent

array of chimneys constructed of hand-made weathered brick.

The roof is a key element. It was done in the Koramic Patrimony range, clay

roof tiles made in rural France using materials and techniques that have stood

the test of time. Multiple sizes and colours of clay roof tiles have been used,

suggesting the time-worn elegance of an old European stately home. The subtle

mix of mellow earth tones in the roof harmonises with the natural hues of the

surrounding woodland, a breathtaking sight in the autumn in particular.

Technology

The building employs the latest technology. Integrally insulated

cast-in-place concrete walls provide both superb insulation

and sound-proofi ng.

As befi ts a legacy home, natural materials provide both long-

term durability and the promise of graceful patina. The walls

are clad in four-inch limestone and granite with solid mahogany

windows. Rustic clay roof tiles provide highly durable roofi ng

whose timeless appeal dovetails with the rustic aesthetics.

The modern and traditional technologies are united into an

ageless aesthetic based on the fundamentals of harmony

and proportion. The house speaks in a style that is unaffected

by the transient nature of our modern culture. The result is a

surprisingly effi cient manor with a stately, timeless presence.

Project name Private residence Lloyd Harbor, Long Island,

New York (USA)

Architect Smiros & Smiros Architects, Glen Cove,

New York

Main contractor Gerold Brothers Builders, Oakdale,

New York

Roofi ng contractor Paul Loth, Loth Roofi ng, East Meadow,

New York

Clay roof tile Koramic Aléonard Plain Tile Patrimony 311

Handcrafted, 30% small, 30% medium,

30% large + 10% Koramic Aléonard

Monuments Historiques, 30% lichen green,

30% Kent red, 30% vineyard black and 10%

ochre rose

24

An exercise in style

At home in the Belle Époque

[Belgium]

>

25

Thanks to the German architect and urban planner Josef Stübben, De

Haan is an oasis of style on the Belgian coast. In 1912, he developed a

plan with strict building regulations for the Concessie, a dune area that

had been made available for what were then the fi rst developments in the

fi eld of tourism. The architect Ievan Decoster recently built a villa there

that was very much in the spirit of Stübben.

Fitting in with the look and feel

Stübben’s preference for the pleasantly-proportioned building style of the

Normandy region is still the determining factor in today’s local urban planning

regulations. New projects must fi t in with the existing cultural look and feel,

without degenerating into bland and uninteresting copies. A captivating and

challenging stylistic exercise for an architect such as Ievan Decoster, who

primarily produces modern designs.

Another element that became a determining factor was the shape and orien-

tation of the corner plot it was on. To create the required interior space, a

longitudinally stretched house was the obvious solution. The architect was

then immediately able to add spacious terracing on the south side in front of

the house.

A tough roofi ng job

In accordance with the regulations, the walls were painted white. The panel-

work sections, a visual reference to the Anglo-Normandian style, are actually a

structure of laths with exterior plastering applied between them. The volumes

acquire their liveliness from the interplay of different roof shapes and heights

and dormer windows. Quite a nice job for a roofi ng contractor who is desperate

to show off his skills after the umpteenth gable roof! They were able to enjoy the

channel gutters, corners and edges, bay windows and other precise details.

The copper guttering fi ts in perfectly with the overall concept.

Natural colours preferred

In accordance with the regulations, the whole structure was

roofed with plain tiles. The architect preferred the natural colour

of fi red clay. “If you were to look at an aerial photo of the region,

that would be the dominant shade.” Choosing Koramic as the

supplier was absolutely self-evident for Ievan Decoster. “I’ve

been working with the company for thirty years now, to my full

satisfaction.”

Project Private residence, De Haan (Belgium)

Architect Ievan Decoster, Varsenare (Jabbeke)

Roofi ng contractor Carl Godderis, Handzame

Clay roof tile Koramic Pottelberg Plain Tile 301 Smooth,

natural red

26

Distinctive within the whole

Basic shapes united by use of a flat tile

>

[The Netherlands]

27

Vathorst, a new residential area north of Amersfoort, is dominated by

terraced rows of single-family units. The detached villas designed by

Drost + van Veen in Rotterdam are distinct in both their typology and

their architecture. The straight, tiled saddle roof covers a building with a

dog-leg kink. This powerful, austere shape creates a moment of peace

amid the triviality of the surrounding architecture.

Simple expressiveness

On land formerly owned by a farm that is still there, fi ve villas are arranged to

give each house maximum privacy. 11,000 houses are to be built in the new

residential area, to be completed around 2014. An adjacent three-storey block

of fl ats was designed along with the villas. The basis for both typologies is

the same: a rectangular body for the structure. By putting a thirty-degree kink

to the left or right in the shape’s layout, Evelien van Veen found a simple but

effective way of adding great expressiveness to the design. A simple saddle roof

of clay roof tiles introduces a second basic form. It does not follow the kink in

the building’s shape, creating a fascinating interplay of surfaces where the two

basic shapes meet.

Detailed refi nements

The displaced corner of the rectangular fl oor plan is twisted until it is precisely

under the ridge of the roof. The wall is at its largest here; south-facing, entirely

of glass. Allowing the roof to protrude here too maximises the expressiveness

of the design. A warm red hand-moulded brick was used for the basic volume.

However, as the tiled roof extends over the longitudinal walls, the bricks are only

seen at the bottom and in the formal and relatively enclosed entrance. The clay

roof tile chosen is a slate engobe Migeon Actua – a large, fl at tile that has been

applied with care. The lines of the dog-leg in the outer wall are cut precisely

to shape and gable tiles were used at the edges. There are

detailed refi nements at the transition between roof and façade.

A concealed aluminium gutter is fi tted here. The aluminium is

coated the same grey as the clay roof tiles and the drainpipes

are cleverly hidden, so the design is a balanced union of a

few main shapes and free of fussy detail. It is precisely that

austerity that distinguishes this small project from the often

intrusive architecture nearby.

Distinctive within the whole

In urban planning terms, the project is a conspicuous calm

point within Vathorst: villas placed loosely around the existing

farm on a communal plot with a few parking spaces and a

separate garage. No property boundaries and the plethora

of fencing they create: the whole project can be seen as a

distinct unit. This undoubtedly inspired the garden layouts

of the residents, with private and communal areas merging

seamlessly. The same careful choice of materials and detailing

can also be seen in the adjacent apartment block. The scale is

different, but it is clearly part of the same family as the villas.

Project Five villas and three fl ats in the Vathorst

district of Amersfoort (The Netherlands)

Client Schipper Bosch Projectontwikkeling,

Amersfoort

Architect Drost + van Veen Architecten, Rotterdam

Project architect Evelien van Veen

Landscape architect Gerrit Vosselman

Main contractor Karbouw Bouwbedrijf, Amersfoort

Roofi ng contractor Emo, Nieuwegein

Clay roof tile Koramic Migeon Actua, slate engobe

28

Idiosyncratic use of clay roof tiles

Housing project in Bergen op Zoom

> [The Netherlands]

29

Integral restructuring of the ’t Fort and Zeekant districts meant 300

houses being demolished. Now that phase one is complete, you can see

that the new buildings, in a range of architectural styles, have respected

what was already there and accentuated specifi c aspects of the area. One

row of houses is a conspicuous example: red roof tiles dominate, just as

they did before - but now in a highly idiosyncratic way.

Vertical tiles on a ‘square roof’

“Using roof tiles is very much part of the surroundings of ’t Fort – Zeekant,”

explains the architect Fred Dekkers. He and his agency, Hoenders Dekkers

Zinsmeister Architekten (HDZ), have been involved in both the fi rst and second

phase of this reconstruction project in Bergen op Zoom. Two blocks of fl ats

designed by their offi ce are being built as part of the second phase. In the fi rst

phase, HDZ handled the sheltered housing, town houses and terraced villas.

The shape and appearance of these low-rise buildings fi t together well as well

as fi tting in with the existing surrounding buildings.

Dekkers says, “If you see the area, the surroundings and the original buildings,

then red roof tiles dominate. We wanted to do something with that, but we

used a simple square roof – a block shape instead of gabled shapes. The front

door is 2.3 metres high, and above it - for the width of the frontage - there is a

concealed gutter. Everything above that is covered with Migeon Actua fl at tiles

from the Koramic range.”

Following the lie of the land

Despite the differentiation among the houses, the uniform usage of materials

still unites them. The rows of owner-occupied housing, the terraced and semi-

detached houses, the two blocks of sheltered accommodation: they all use

the same vocabulary of a single storey and a tiled roof. The ground fl oor has

masonry outer walls; the volume built above it is straight-

forward and covered with clay roof tiles. The houses have a

timber-framed construction.

“If you look closely, you will see little jumps in the roofl ine. That’s

where we’re following the lie of the land, which is irregular. The

houses are on the edge of an area known as the Brabantse

Wal. After that, the land gets lower,” explains Dekkers.

There are differences in the heights of the roofs. Dekkers says,

“For the terraced houses, a rebate can be put in the construc-

tion wall, making it easy to add another fl oor. That was done

straight away for some of the houses. But it is also a very good

solution for future extensions. And the roof tile can simply be

screwed back on again and there will be no problems with

differences in the way things are fi xed.” The windows in the

‘roof’ sections have dark frames and are in the tiled areas. “It’s

a logical colour choice for windows in a roof, so we reckoned

it was also right for vertical surfaces with roof tiles,” explains

Dekkers. Just as usual - but unique in its own way.

Project Housing project in the ’t Fort-Zeekant

district, Bergen op Zoom (The Netherlands)

Client Wonen West Brabant and Rabo Vastgoed

Architect Hoenders Dekkers Zinsmeister Architekten b.v.,

Delft

Project architects ir. Fred Dekkers, ir. Allard de Goeij,

Kaspar Zinsmeister and Marloes Koster

Project team ing. Pim IJsendoorn, ing. Joris de Zeeuw

and ir. Inge van Zuijlen

Contractor Gebr. van Wanrooij Bouwbedrijven, Geffen

Clay roof tile Koramic Migeon Actua, natural redgeon Actua, natural red

30

An object worth studying

A curved roof rises up from the building plot

>

[Belgium]

31

The clients had planning permission on a plot of land within a large site.

They wanted to build a single-family house on it, something that had its

own unmistakeable identity. Together with the architect Eric Boddaert, the

solution they arrived at was a curved roof. Along with parts of the side

walls, it was to be covered in clay roof tiles.

Clay roof tiles on a curved roof

For the architect, it was the fi rst practical acquaintance with curved roofs using

clay roof tiles. He had also briefl y considered a standing seam roof in zinc,

but budgetary constraints meant that this was not feasible. Because it is also

possible to produce perfectly watertight wall cladding using clay roof tiles, they

soon settled on this option.

Doubly watertight roof

The architect himself gathered together all the information that was required

and then studied the details together with the roofi ng contractor. Finally, they

decided to apply an APP bitumen base layer over the entire length of the curved

roof. Where the slope becomes very small at the top, they used hardwood

tile laths that are resistant to any water penetration. “It is guaranteed 200%

watertight. The APP bitumen was an extra expense, but we do like to develop

projects that are basically ecologically sound. You could invest a lot of money in

improved roof underlay sheets with tongues and grooves to make sure you get

a wind-proof roof. But that was not needed here.”

Special vertical angle tiles

For the cladding, the architect suggested Narvik Datura roof tiles in slate

engobe because he found that a particularly suitable option. The colour

seemed obvious, in combination with the red hand-moulded wall bricks. The

architect was particularly pleased with the fact that Koramic

has vertical angle tiles in the programme for the vertical

connection with the wall.

To add a spacious effect on the inside of the compact and

well-insulated house, corner windows were used. The frames

are in anthracite-coloured aluminium and the zinc roof gutters

use the same shade, giving the whole a consistent coloration.

His conclusion? “Although we employed a more expensive

solution for the roof underlay, the clients did get a house that is

full of individuality, for a very affordable price.”

Project Single-family house, Lochristi (Belgium)

Architect Eric Boddaert, Munte

Roofi ng contractor Johan De Vroe NV, Merelbeke

Clay roof tile Koramic Narvik Datura, slate engobe

32

Tile-clad maisonettesHousing for a settled Gipsy community in Alsace

> [France]

33

One of Alsace’s most important and oldest travelling communities

(settled since 1930) have swapped their precarious accommodation of

huts and caravans for individual environmentally certifi ed maisonettes.

The architecture juxtaposes the ancestral symbology of the home and

central hearth with all the benefi ts of a very effi cient climate-controlled

concept and a contiguous tiled roof and wall.

Recreating a village atmosphere

The maisonettes are in small clusters of 5 or 6 around common yards intended

for neighbours and children, separated from access roads, caravan parking

and scrap metal areas. Placing the accommodation around these yards was

the best way of respecting relationships that were interwoven back when the

community settled down. The orientation of the two sites allows south-facing

living rooms, protected against the sun’s rays in summer and making the most

of what it provides in winter. The north-facing rooms have smaller openings.

The roofs and walls are covered with fl at Actua Duplex clay roof tiles. Each is

distinguished from the next by alternating pairs of roof tile colours: red and grey

or red and slate. Red for the body of the house; grey and slate defi ning the

outer volumes, depending on the type of house (T2 to T5). For the architect,

M. Laperrelle of Kn’L Architecture, the dialogue maintained continuously from

the start of the project until the families moved in was the key element in rede-

veloping the village for its inhabitants and in the success of the social project it

was part of.

Thermal solar panels embedded into the roofs

The living areas in the houses are organised around a wood-burning stove,

with a network for distributing suffi cient heat to warm the rooms, thanks to

the excellent thermal insulation. The humidity of the ventilation

system is adjustable. It utilises the chimney effect of the venti-

lated façades and the attic space as a buffer, providing climatic

comfort in all seasons. Prior to the laying of the clay roof tiles,

thermal solar panels have been installed, embedded into the

south-facing roofs to supply a 200-litre hot water tank.

Colours enrich the precision of the architec-

ture

A row of kink tiles covering the intersection of roof and façade

ensures continuity of the shape and keeps the roofs and walls

watertight. Rainwater simply drains away at the bottom of the

wall. Galvanised steel hoops separate the coloured zones

refl ecting the architectural and functional subdivisions of

each house. The gables are highlighted by an obliquely cut

galvanised steel profi le that covers the tops of the gable tiles.

This profi le also keeps the edges watertight.

The quality of the site has undoubtedly benefi ted from the

precision of the prefabricated wooden frame (chosen in fact

because of the poor load-carrying capacity of the ground).

Laying the clay roof tiles was greatly helped by precise layout

plans, unavoidable in this type of project.

Project 37 maisonettes, Kingersheim in Alsace

(France)

Architect Kn’L Architecture, Mathieu Laperrelle

and Philippe Koscielski, Rouffach

Main contractor Domial, Altkirch

Roofi ng contractor Charles Schoenenberger, Colmar

Clay roof tile Koramic Actua Duplex, red, grey

and slate engobe

34

Discreet Manor

House Charm Company headquarters styled as an Interwar period villa

> [Poland]

Building Value

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