From Concrete to Wood: What Choices Do You Make, and What Are the Benefits?
How can you make wood construction truly feasible? What decisions do you need to make along the way? And what are the ultimate benefits of this transition for a housing authority? During this interactive afternoon, Building Balance, Healthy Building Movement, Wonen Limburg, and Dura Vermeer will take you through the practical aspects. This isn’t a theoretical discussion, but a behind-the-scenes look at a project that was originally designed in concrete and ultimately built using wood.
1 September 2026
09:00 - 13:30 uur
Heierhof
You are warmly welcome in Baarlo, at the Kuukven project by Wonen Limburg. Here, Dura Vermeer is building 46 single-family homes, two of which will be constructed entirely of wood. These homes not only feature a wooden structural framework but also bio-based exterior cladding and bio-based insulation. This makes Kuukven a great real-world example of sustainable and healthy construction.
During this afternoon session, the parties involved will share lessons learned and practical experiences. Topics to be discussed include the following:
• What considerations were made to enable timber construction?
• What impact does this have on design, construction, and collaboration?
• What are the benefits of wood construction for housing authorities and residents?
• What role does healthy construction play in this?
Location: Heierhof 27A, 5991 NJ Baarlo
Program:
1:00–1:30 p.m.
Check-in with coffee and tea
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Welcome and interactive program in three groups:
• Building Balance & Healthy Building Movement – The opportunities of wood construction and healthy building.
• Dura Vermeer & Wonen Limburg – From concrete to wood: the choices made, challenges, and benefits.
• Guided tour of the homes – Experience the homes for yourself and ask the experts any questions you may have.
2:30–4:00 p.m.
Joint closing session and drinks
We’ll wrap up with an interactive recap: what insights will you take back to your own organization?
Who is this for?
Housing cooperatives, developers, builders, provinces, and municipalities
This field trip is intended for anyone who:
• Works in social housing and wants to apply biobased construction in practice
• Wants to learn from a project that has already been completed
• Is curious to see how decisions made on paper play out in practice.