A fixed set of materials from the region and just beyond. We know how they behave, how they age and who makes them.
Stone
Marl
- Origin
- Soft limestone from the South Limburg hills, cut for farms and churches for centuries.
- Character
- Warm yellow-white, light, porous. Ages beautifully and always stays a little soft.
- Where we use it
- Facades, interior walls, plinths.
- Care
- Let it breathe: lime mortar only, never cement or latex.
Stone
Belgian bluestone
- Origin
- Blue-grey limestone from Wallonia, with fossils you see if you look closely.
- Character
- Hard, cool, almost indestructible. Honed it turns soft grey, polished almost black.
- Where we use it
- Floors in halls and kitchens, worktops, sills.
- Care
- Seal against stains; barely wears in a hundred years.
- In projects
- Huis Kruisberg
Plaster and paint
Clay plaster
- Origin
- Clay, sand and fibres. In the timber-framed houses of the Geul valley it has sat between the beams for centuries.
- Character
- Matt, warm, slightly irregular. Absorbs moisture and releases it again.
- Where we use it
- Living rooms and bedrooms, inside of old facades.
- Care
- A scratch is repaired with a damp sponge.
- In projects
- Huis KruisbergHouse on the Geul
Plaster and paint
Lime plaster
- Origin
- Burnt limestone, slaked with water. The oldest plaster we know.
- Character
- Chalk white to soft off-white, with a depth that paint does not have.
- Where we use it
- Ceilings, cornices, wet rooms as tadelakt.
- Care
- Breathable and mould-resistant; refresh every few years.
- In projects
- Town house in Roermond
Plaster and paint
Lime paint, grey-green
- Origin
- Lime with earth pigment. We mix the colour per project, in the light of the room.
- Character
- Cloudy and matt. Shifts from grey to green with the daylight.
- Where we use it
- Walls in tall rooms and stairwells.
- Care
- Do not scrub; touch up stains with the same paint.
- In projects
- Town house in Roermond
Wood
Oiled oak
- Origin
- European oak, preferably from forests in the Ardennes and Eifel.
- Character
- Warm, strong, with growth rings you can see and feel.
- Where we use it
- Floors, tables, benches and stairs.
- Care
- Oil twice a year; sand out scratches.
- In projects
- Huis KruisbergPavilion on the Maasplassen
Wood
Green-stained oak
- Origin
- Oak stained with iron and pigment, to the tone of the steel frames.
- Character
- Deep green-black, with the grain still visible.
- Where we use it
- Kitchens, cupboards and joinery that should recede.
- Care
- Wipe with a dry cloth; the stain does not wear through.
- In projects
- Huis KruisbergTown house in Roermond
Wood
Smoked oak
- Origin
- Oak smoked with ammonia, so it darkens right through.
- Character
- Brown like old beams, without being old.
- Where we use it
- Herringbone floors, joinery in historic houses.
- Care
- As oiled oak; does not fade in the sun.
- In projects
- Town house in Roermond
Textile
Undyed linen
- Origin
- Flax from Belgium and northern France, woven without dye.
- Character
- Cool in summer, creases and softens with every wash.
- Where we use it
- Upholstery, curtains, covers.
- Care
- Covers go in the wash; no ironing needed.
- In projects
- Huis KruisbergPavilion on the Maasplassen
Textile
Wool
- Origin
- Sheep's wool, woven or knotted for rugs.
- Character
- Warm, softens sound, repels dirt.
- Where we use it
- Rugs and throws.
- Care
- Beat and air; dab stains, do not rub.
- In projects
- Huis Kruisberg
Metal
Zinc
- Origin
- Rolled sheet, the roofing material of the Meuse region for a century.
- Character
- Light grey, turns dull and bluish over the years.
- Where we use it
- Roof edges, gutters, worktops.
- Care
- No maintenance; the patina protects itself.
- In projects
- Pavilion on the Maasplassen
Metal
Bronze
- Origin
- Cast at a regional foundry, for fittings and handles.
- Character
- Dark and warm, polishes where hands touch it.
- Where we use it
- Door handles, pulls, taps.
- Care
- Do not polish: the worn spots belong to it.
- In projects
- Town house in Roermond