Adrianuskerk Esbeek

n 2018, the Adrianuskerk in Esbeek (North Brabant) was transformed and renovated from church building to school building. Liveability organization Coöperatie Esbeek and the municipality of Hilvarenbeek developed the initiative, together with Luijten-Smeulders architects, to give the church building a social reuse by converting it into a co-educational accommodation, in which a playgroup, childcare and primary school are combined. The project was supported by DEMI-MORE (http://maakmonumentenduurzaam.eu/monumenten/adrianuskerk-esbeek/) which in the past helped generate resources to make monumental buildings more sustainable. The Adrianuskerk is a national monument with interior and exterior walls of clean brick that could not be insulated with it. However, the roof and floor could be insulated with high-quality insulation to limit the heat demand. The floors are also equipped with a capillary underfloor heating system. By self-generating energy to compensate for the excessive heat loss through the walls, the energy costs of the school can be as great as the energy costs of a modern school. A solar power installation was placed on a nearby flat roof of the village hall that generates energy for both the church building and the village hall. An air-water heat pump and the capillary underfloor heating system are used for heating and cooling. As a result, the building is now gas-free. For ventilation use is made of a CO2-controlled ventilation system D (mechanical supply and exhaust) with heat recovery. Finally, roof openings have been made in combination with LED lighting for more light. Despite the non-insulated walls, a pleasant indoor climate has been created in this way. Source photos: Koen van den Kieboom