Project
Singel 280-346
In Amsterdam's historic city center, G-kracht renovated 204 meters of quay wall along the Singel canal. Thanks to a vibration-free, circular process and the preservation of trees, the character of this UNESCO-listed canal was fully preserved.
Challenge
Between house numbers 280 and 346, in the heart of Amsterdam's ring of canals, the quay on the Singel was about to collapse. The location, narrow street, monumental buildings and seven mature trees right along the waterfront, made this a technically and spatially complex project.
A traditional approach would lead to lengthy closures, significant inconvenience and possibly the felling of trees. With the application of the innovative G-kracht, developed within the Innovation Partnership Quay Walls, an alternative route was chosen: careful renovation without affecting the character of the site.
Implementation
We applied the established G-kracht, drilling steel tube piles vibration-free through the existing quay. Finishing with precast concrete elements and collapsed masonry bricks ensured preservation of the historic appearance.
Customization was required for this location: through clever phasing and logistics over water, the street remained accessible and the canal accessible to shipping. The equipment moved along the placed tubular piles - ideal in the limited space. Segmented pile placement allowed all seven trees to be preserved. Sustainability also played an important role: the use of electric equipment, reuse of natural stone cover stones and a low MKI value contribute to a future-proof result.
The environment is actively involved through resident communication, an on-site point of contact and real-time updates via LinkedIn.
Result
The renovated quay was completed in June 2023. The construction meets all requirements, but completely preserves the historic streetscape - hardly distinguishable from original for passers-by.
The minimal inconvenience, tree preservation and recognizability of the quay were positively received by the environment. This project shows how the G-kracht is effective in vulnerable areas: fast, sustainable and in balance with the environment.
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