New standard in healthcare real estate

Flexible and sustainable solutions for growing care needs of the elderly

Bergh Bouwgroep, founded by Erik van den Bergh's grandfather, has now existed for over 66 years. What once began as a small-scale family business has grown into a major player, specializing in healthcare real estate. Van den Bergh says, "In recent years we have invested a lot in developing a flexible building system that is both sustainable and cost-efficient. It's all about customization that we can offer with the necessary standards, without compromising on quality."

Social necessity

One of the recent examples of Bergh Bouwgroep's innovative approach is Woonhof Sterrelaan, a small-scale residential care project for seniors in Bergen op Zoom. "This project really emerged from a social need," Van den Bergh explains. "The Social Support Act (WMO) set new requirements for care provision in 2015, which meant that many seniors were in danger of falling between the cracks. We developed this project with the idea that good care and independent living can go hand in hand."

Woonhof Sterrelaan houses 20 seniors, each with their own residential studio. In addition, residents share common living rooms and dining areas, making for a social living environment. "People really live up," says Van den Bergh. "My grandmother - the wife of the founder of Bergh Construction Group - lives there now, too, and it does me good to see how this living environment contributes to the well-being of seniors."

Small-scale

Woonhof Sterrelaan is Bergh Bouwgroep's most recently completed residential care concept, but would not have existed without Margaretha Woonhof in the village of Huijbergen. This was previously developed specifically for single seniors who need a combination of independent living and customized care. This project came about in close cooperation with a local general practitioner and home care organization and accommodates 17 seniors. What distinguishes Margaretha Woonhof is the way in which care and living are integrated in a small-scale, communal setting.

At Margaretha Woonhof, care is organized by a small-scale home care organization, which ensures a constant presence of permanent care staff through collective purchasing. This means that residents have access to care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while continuing to live independently. The home care organization works closely with residents to create personalized care plans tailored to their individual needs.

Van den Bergh is proud of the success of Margaretha Woonhof: "It is wonderful to see how the residents really flourish here. They live independently, but are part of a community. That gives them a sense of security and belonging."

Durable building system

The construction method used at Woonhof Sterrelaan is based on an innovative building system developed in-house by Bergh Bouwgroep. The construction method with high-quality wooden components creates a healthy and restful living environment. In addition to this important health aspect, the natural building material brings many other benefits. This system combines sustainability, speed of construction and flexibility in use. The core of the construction method lies in the use of prefabricated building elements. These are manufactured in advance and assembled on site. This ensures a more efficient construction process, with less time spent on site and less impact on the environment. Van den Bergh: "One of the biggest advantages of this building system is its flexibility. The buildings are modular, which means that they can easily be adapted or expanded. This is an important feature for healthcare facilities, where the need for space or functions can change over time."

The precast building elements are designed with nodes that are easily detachable, allowing parts to be modified without having to demolish the entire building. The internal layout can also be adjusted relatively easily to meet changing needs, such as healthcare technology innovations or residents' changing living preferences. Although the system is based on standardized prefabricated building elements, it allows for standardized customization. "This means that the base of the building consists of repeatable, standard components, but adjustments can be made within that standard for specific needs such as façade design, room layout and finishes."

On-site assembly

"With the high degree of prefabrication, combined with a design in 3D, construction becomes more like assembly on the building site," Van den Bergh emphasizes. "This not only works faster and more efficiently, but also ensures that the construction site is cleaner and safer with less inconvenience to the surroundings. In addition, this also brings the necessary cost benefits, which is especially important in healthcare projects, given the often limited budgets."

Blueprint

With Margaretha Woonhof and Woonhof Sterrelaan as exemplary projects, Bergh Bouwgroep plans to develop more small-scale residential care initiatives of this kind in the future. The demand for residential solutions for the elderly is growing and with its proven building system and care concept, Bergh Bouwgroep is able to fulfill this need. As far as Van den Bergh is concerned, the projects can serve as a blueprint for new developments in the care real estate sector. "In this way, we are building not just structures, but communities," he concludes. "And that's what it's ultimately all about."