NMBS's mission in Belgium is: ‘To guarantee reliable, safe and efficient trains that you can count on day after day.’ To succeed in this, the organisation needs to invest in a high-end facility where testing can be carried out following thorough maintenance work. Merford has played a major role in delivering the most optimal acoustic solutions over the past years.
Case study
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Façade grilles for Canvas Living in Rotterdam
Living alongside a busy motorway requires smart solutions. For the new Canvas Living development in Rotterdam, we designed custom-made façade grilles that let fresh air in while keeping traffic noise out. This creates a healthy and comfortable living environment right in the heart of the city.
Thanks to our AKR grilles, the 614 homes at Canvas Living now benefit from a healthy indoor climate
A residential complex next to one of the busiest motorways
Canvas Living in Rotterdam comprises 614 homes for students and young professionals. The complex is located right next to the Van Brienenoord Bridge, where tens of thousands of cars and trucks pass by every day. It is an attractive location, but also one of the noisiest areas in the city. Yet it remains essential that residents can ventilate their homes to maintain comfort and a healthy indoor climate.
The challenge was clear: how to provide sufficient fresh air in the homes without letting traffic noise in? For the developers, the architect, and future residents, this was a critical issue.
Custom-made AKR grilles as a quiet ventilation solution
Together with De Groot en Visser B.V., Kraaijvanger Architects, and Waal Engineering, we explored options for natural ventilation while maintaining residential comfort. The solution needed to comply with the Dutch Building Code and simultaneously complement the façade design.
We supplied acoustic ventilating grilles (AKR grilles) that allow the flow of fresh air while keeping traffic noise out. These grilles meet high insulation standards and have low air resistance. However, not all façades of the residential complex are equally exposed to traffic noise. For façades on the quieter side, dummy grilles were installed to maintain a consistent appearance without unnecessary ventilation openings.
The AKR grilles are integrated into a comfort box: a combination with tilt-and-turn windows that allows short-term airing. This enables residents to quickly ventilate their homes while keeping traffic noise outside.
Captured on site
614 homes with fresh air and peace
Thanks to the AKR grilles, the 614 homes at Canvas Living benefit from a healthy indoor climate and peace, even in a high-noise location. The complex meets all legal requirements while providing residents with a comfortable and quiet living environment.
Residential comfort has been clearly enhanced, with technical solutions that are as effective as they are subtle. This project demonstrates our approach: smart noise control that contributes to well-being in an urban living context. The entire development is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2026.
The project illustrates how custom-made solutions can make urban living possible in locations where noise presents a significant challenge.
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