Paris in Pijnacker: building with climate ambition

At the heart of De Kiem in Pijnacker—an ambitious area development project focused on sustainable living—rises Knoest: a five-story residential building with 29 apartments, designed by Urban Climate Architects for Blink (part of jaJo). The project is a key component of the new neighborhood, which is fully committed to sustainability, circularity, and a future-proof living environment.

In Pijnacker, the dream isn’t about French architecture or atmosphere, but about Paris climate ambitions. The Knoest project is being developed and built “Paris Proof,” keeping both global climate goals (maximum 1.5°C warming) and Dutch targets (two-thirds CO2 reduction by 2030) in mind.

The building is entirely constructed from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)—a deliberate choice aligned with the Paris Proof ambition. But the sustainable approach went beyond the structure: the façade materialization played a central role. The façades feature wooden cladding, while the building’s plinth and balconies are finished with Dekton Nebbia, mounted on a Hilti aluminum substructure.

In addition to material selection, minimizing waste was a priority; the façade layout and detailing were designed using standard dimensions wherever possible, ensuring efficient material use and reducing cutting waste.

“The structural component and the façade are two major parts of the building,” explains Dennis. “That’s why we chose timber construction. Beyond that, we designed with fewer installations. That was another key decision made early on. We opted for a system that leverages the site’s qualities, such as heat and coolness from the ground. This reduces the need for installations to heat and cool the building.”

“All these choices influence each other—even down to selecting biobased materials for the façade and insulation. We’re moving toward a closed material cycle, working primarily with renewable materials and ensuring components are demountable. That requires entirely different strategies at the start of the process.”

The most striking architectural and decorative feature of the project is the vertical alignment, combined with wooden framing lines. This concept was inspired by the building’s all-sided design, which led to a vertically oriented façade. The materialization aimed to create a play of horizontal and vertical lines, forming one cohesive whole rather than breaking it into separate strips.

For the plinth, Cosentino material was chosen for two reasons: the desired contrast in color and texture with the gray wooden façade, and the need for a robust material to make the plinth less vulnerable. Dekton proved highly suitable thanks to its favorable environmental score and the absence of color differences on the edges—a common issue with many panel materials. The application went smoothly: “We’ve worked with Dekton before, so no surprises,” says Dennis Hauer.