80s
The restoration of “’t Hooghuys” started in 1976, when Luc Stas purchased it, after years of unoccupancy and dilapidation. The entrance was almost untraceable through a proliferation of plants and bushes. A group of worthless buildings and a coach house collapsed in 1960, marred the entrance. Everything was completely dilapidated and damaged. All doors and windows had disappeared. Everything had been smashed to pieces and left to the ravages of time.
With his own resources and lots of energy, Luc Stas spent all of his spare time restoring. He has to be credited for putting a stop to the decay of “’t Hooghuys”, as a result of which this authentic piece of heritage was preserved for future generations.
90s
At the beginning of 1990, “‘t Hooghuys” was purchased by Gunter Pauli, which marked phase 2 of the restoration. With new energy and the necessary financial means, first the restoration of the “lean-to shed” was dealt with. In order to save it, all walls had to be anchored. The original truss, with a ridge shifted by 8 cm, was no longer suitable for supporting a roof construction. On top of the restored old truss, a second roof was constructed. Ogival windows and doors were restored and/or added. A natural stone floor and new utility facilities transformed the 18th century “lean-to shed” into an office space with regard for the past.
“‘t Hooghuys” itself was also equipped with new windows of safety glass, the wooden floors and stairways were respectively restored and replaced, the roof was taken care of, the façade was stripped of cement rests and was repointed. Inside, the plasterwork and utility facilities were renewed. Even then, “‘t Hooghuys” was already affected by salt crystals and knew many problems related to moisture. As you will read below, the techniques to fix these problems were still in their infancy.
“’t Hooghuys” in the year 2010
When we purchased “’t Hooghuys” in May 2007, it had been rented for more than ten years. Lack of maintenance and occupancy had caused a lot of damage. A thorough approach of the structural problems was necessary.
Phase 1 : structural works
- The high groundwater level and the fact that the whole domain is surrounded by a moat, which has very high water levels during winter months, resulted in ascending moisture in the walls. In the Knights’ Hall on the ground floor, groundwater had even literally risen up to ground level.
- As the walls of the foundations are no less than 1.20 m wide and rest on large white stones upon which the walls were erected with large bricks (Spanish type) in a herringbone bond, it was no sinecure to stop the ascending moisture by means of an injection. Every 9 cm, both on the inside as well as on the outside, and often also diagonally, holes were drilled, which were then filled with a special emulsion gel. After 6 months up to a year, this results in a glazed layer within the walls that completely stops the moisture from rising. These works took more than 2 weeks.
- Cavity walls were not used during the Middle Ages. The combination with porous, water-absorbing bricks thus caused an incessant activation of the salt crystals whenever it rained heavily and for a long time. In order to solve this problem, all buildings were surrounded by scaffolds in order to equip them, by applying 3 layers of chemical hydrofusion, with an air-permeable, water-repellent protective layer. At the same time, other façade works were executed: 2 sandstone ogival windows and drips/drip-mouldings/gargoyles were restored, previously applied paint on stonework was sandblasted by means of the “Torbo” system, and pointing and facing bricks were touched up. These works took more than 2 months.
- The inner floors were loose in the sand, so there was no barrier at all against ascending groundwater. The floors were dug out manually up to a depth of 40 cm , which made it possible for us to pour reinforced concrete, to install new utility facilities and to equip the ground floor with underfloor heating. This way, not only the - historically incorrect - central heating could be done away with, but we could also restore/replace the heavily damaged floors. This phase took almost 5 months.
- The moisture-related problems had also affected the plaster works executed by the previous owner. All plastering, from the ground up to the uppermost floor, was affected by salt crystals again, as a result of which paint was just “pushed” off the wall. No matter how dry the walls would become after the façade treatment, the moisture of the new plastering would reactivate the crystals, and the problem would rise again. All over the building, a special foil was applied, upon which the new plastering was applied. In order to “straighten” the walls, in some places a plastering of up to 12 cm was applied. No less than 12.000 l of water and 2 tons of plaster were used. Here as well, we seized the opportunity to install new utility facilities. This phase took more than 6 months.
- The basement, situated at the moat’s level, was provided with floor and wall drainage and a pump installation.
Phase 2: historically correct interior decoration
- As loam did not adhere to the foil that was applied, but we nevertheless desired that effect, the plastering was deliberately not polished, but calked. Lime paints based on old historical colour palettes did the rest.
- All wooden floors were scoured and provided with a natural protective layer, or greyed. The oak stairways dating from the 90s and yellowed by varnish, were sandblasted and greyed in order to give them an “old” look. Thus they stood out well in this historic building.
- The old grey-black terracotta kitchen floor was recycled. The Knights’ Hall on the ground floor was equipped with an old blue stone floor with a Roman tile pattern. The library and the northern extension were equipped with old floor tiles set in different patterns.
- Only 2 inner doors were authentic. These were recycled and served as an example for the replacement of the other doors. They were all constructed out of old solid oak planks, placed on a frame with a swallowtail joint, aged, greyed and provided with manually wrought fittings. Where necessary, new door chocks were placed in the walls.
- The modern kitchen had to go and was replaced by an old rural Flemish kitchen. On the first floor, only the bathroom’s old church floor with white marble cabochons was kept. The bathroom and toilets were decorated in Flemish style, with a wink to the past.
- As is the case in the other rooms, the great hall on the first floor also has lovely sculpted beams resting on beautiful gothic corbels. Unlike in the other rooms however, the ceiling here is painted in old Flemish colours. One beam support is completely intact and even has its original Renaissance frescos. It is unique. The restored escutcheons of the previous owners are also clearly visible.
- During restoration, the existing fireplace was restored and equipped with authentic 18th century white stone piers.
- Old trusses were treated against woodworm, followed by the application of a protective layer.
Phase 3: reconstruction of the park
- Several trees (willow trees, poplars and chestnut trees) had to be cut down because of disease and make room for new plantings. Hedges of no less than 5 m of height had to be trimmed drastically.
- The moat was cleaned and on its front side equipped with a protection in order to prevent it from washing away.
- The entrance to the offices (lean-to shed) was reconstructed. Concept: a wooden ‘pile dwelling’ against the castle wall. Concretely: a wooden platform on water level, which visually enhances the existing well and leads to a wooden annex which forms the entrance to the offices.
- The parking place, previously situated along the avenue, was reconstructed and extended to 14 places.
- The inner court, the “Warande”, is being thoroughly reconstructed. Concept : the 4 elements : water, fire , earth and air have to be present.
- Water: a pit drilling into the Antverpia layer (90m deep) has to prevent the moat from “running dry” during summer months (by providing water via the central fountain and big pond up to the moat).
- Fire: a large fire pit can be used for campfires and even to roast pork from the spit.
- Earth: reconstructed paths along the various beds and native trees
- Air: the garden’s lay-out provides for beautiful vistas, with the sky serving as a background.
- In the spring of 2010, thousands of native plants, shrubs and trees were planted in order to give the park a unique, calming aura .
