Circular housing concept: solution to housing shortage

According to the National Housing Agenda, some 75,000 new homes must be built each year to meet rising demand. That number is far from being met. Main reason? A shortage of construction hands. By thinking more in terms of prefabrication, the pace of construction can be increased, fewer personnel are needed and costs are reduced at the same time. An interview with Johan Oltvoort of OLCAS about the in-house developed circular, prefab, sustainable and affordable housing concept Bloqz.

For more than 35 years, OLBECON has supplied precast concrete system floors and walls, and in recent decades, increasingly complete concrete shells through sister company OLCAS. The difference in supply and demand inspired Oltvoort to develop a solution from his years of experience with precast building systems to create circular homes quickly, efficiently and affordably. "In 2017, we started the initial planning of Bloqz, which eventually led to the double model home that was realized in Lochem at the end of November this year."

Bloqz under construction.

Efficiency

The basis of the Bloqz concept is efficiency, Oltvoort emphasizes. "The concept was developed from a pragmatic vision of building the future. The house is quick to build, energy-neutral, moveable (circular) and extremely affordable. The latter in particular constitutes an important drive." That does not mean, according to Oltvoort, that the Bloqz home is a bargain. The home features state-of-the-art technology and is even equipped with concrete core activation. "All techniques, such as heating, cooling, electricity, water supply, sewage and ventilation, are prefabricated into the floor. It benefits construction speed and also makes the homes demountable if necessary."

Come and see

The first two model homes were recently built in Lochem. "These are purely showroom homes, there is no residential use on them," says Oltvoort. "One home we furnished completely ready to move in, offering potential customers the opportunity to stay for a weekend, for example, and experience the home for themselves. The other home is our 'Willy Root home' which we constantly monitor and in which we can do all kinds of tests for the further development of the Bloqz concept." According to Oltvoort, the concept is similar to automotive. The model is standard, but then there is choice in the appearance of the facade (brick pattern), window frames (wood, plastic or aluminum) and the "engine," or heat pump with different capacities and buffer vessels.

Initially, OLCAS's focus with the Bloqz concept is on a single-family flat-roof home. Oltvoort does not rule out several variants following. "The concept lends itself perfectly to a gable roof or to the realization of an 'apartment complex' with two identical ground floor layouts one above the other. Moreover, the Bloqz model home is ingeniously constructed and can be realized as a construction kit within two weeks."