The Wynendaele moated castle was founded in the 11th century and is now considered a valuable piece of Flemish cultural heritage. During the most recent restoration, the owners decided on an energy upgrade that would preserve the character of the historic building. The focus was on the 203 windows with solid oak frames, which could not be replaced due to historic preservation requirements. Fineo vacuum insulating glass proved to be the ideal solution.
RenoWindow
The vacuum glass combines an extremely slim glass structure with high energy efficiency. Between two glass panes is a vacuum space of just 0.1 mm, which almost completely reduces heat conduction. This enables the glass to achieve thermal insulation values that correspond to modern insulating glazing, while at the same time being thin and lightweight.
60 different glass formats
For the implementation, all existing windows were measured down to the millimetre by specialists from the Belgian company RenoWindow. AGC Glass Europe then produced around 60 different formats with glass thicknesses between 6.7 and 20.1 mm – precisely tailored to each installation situation. Thanks to such customization, the original muntin divisions of the windows could be retained as was.
RenoWindow
High-tech glass installed by tradesmen
The installation was carried out in the traditional manner: the existing rebates were milled and cleaned, then the new glass was inserted with linseed oil putty and finally the surfaces were reworked. Only in a few cases did window sashes have to be removed. At the same time, seals and fittings were checked and replaced if necessary.
The project also posed logistical challenges: Many windows were hard to access due to the surrounding moat, which is why specially adapted scaffolding solutions were used. Nevertheless, the replacement was completed in around two weeks without significantly disrupting the castle's operations.
In addition to thermal insulation, Fineo vacuum glass offers increased light transmission and effective sound insulation. It can also be combined with additional functions such as solar control or safety glass. The Fineo Heritage variant is available for listed buildings, combining historical charm with modern performance.
The successful implementation at Wynendaele Castle clearly demonstrates that modern glass technology and precise craftsmanship make it possible to make historic buildings energy-efficient for the future without compromising their architectural identity.
RenoWindow
