The Oostvaarders Nature Center in Almere, Netherlands stands on the edge of the Oostvaardersplassen, a vast and pristine nature area with vast lakes and rugged grasslands. The area is one of the most unique natural areas in Europe.

Designed by the Rotterdam architectural firm Drost + Van Veen in 2008, the Nature Center is modest but inviting and rises from the flat land, with a head space that extends into a panorama to see the nature reserve.  

The façade of the building’s transformation is recognizable by the numerous framed-view windows. Constructed in massive, prefab wooden walls and floors, with varying diagonal planks, the facade features FSC 100% certified spruce provided by sustainable wood supplier Leegwater of Heerhugowaard, Netherlands. The architecture firm has worked with Leegwater on other projects and entrusted Leegwater to select not only the best wood for the cladding but the best protective coating for the thermally-treated wood.  

A long-term relationship of trust

Leegwater, an avid user of Sansin products for more than 15 years, recommended using the penetrating one-coat finish of Sansin’s Precison Coat SDF on Oostvaarders spruce cladding for its proven record protecting thermally-treated wood and to maintain the organic look of the spruce. The façade’s color, 27 Ebony, was inspired by the dark silhouettes of grazing cattle dotting the horizon of the reserve.

Highlighting natural beauty
Sansin offers natural perfection in protecting Oostvaarders’ wood cladding by only using the finest ingredients, allowing the modified natural oils and resins to penetrate deep into the wood, providing exceptional weather and UV protection. SDF not only protects the outside of the wood, it also protects the inside by allowing the wood to “breathe”, helping to prevent moisture from being trapped in the wood and causing rot. The result is a deep and intense staining that will endure long winters and damp summers.

The recommended wood treatment:

Since the completion of the Oostvaarders Nature Center, Sansin has introduced Eos and Ardera, two new wood treatments that build on the proven results of SDF for exceptional performance on substrates and exterior wood surfaces, including Accoya. Eos and Ardera both provide the quality and features of SDF while improving on its formula to better meet the demands on wood surfaces.      

Eos:

Recommended for its superior protection and penetrating characteristics of chemically modified and engineered exterior wood surfaces, including Accoya and thermally modified wood substrates, sidings, decks, log and timber homes, shakes and fences, Eos features a low luster finish as a stand-alone 2 coat system or as the penetrating first coat in a three part system with Ardera.  EOS is UV resistant, environmentally-friendly and easy-to-maintain.

Ardera:

An extremely durable two-coat finish for exterior vertical and horizontal surfaces where a medium or high luster film forming finish is desired, Ardera offers exceptional performance on substrates, including Accoya and thermally modified wood substrates, when combined with a first coat of Eos.  Ardera is UV resistant, environmentally-friendly, low VOC and water repellent.

For 25 years, Sansin has been the only wood protection company focused exclusively on researching, developing, and introducing environmentally-friendly, ‘water-borne’ interior and exterior wood products. Our technologies deliver outstanding color, durability and performance without the toxicity found in conventional stains.

Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, we have dealer locations across Canada the U.S. and parts of Europe. The Sansin Enviro Stains use water, not oil, to deeply penetrate and protect wood naturally, from within.

The Sansin Corporation is a global leader in environmentally-friendly wood protection