A splendid example of 15thcentury, secular timber frame construction in the center of Diest.
Located in Diest, De Fortuyn is an urban, timber frame house dating back to the 15th to 16th century. The building has undergone various interventions and changes throughout it's history, but fortunately, some original parts have still been preserved.
In combination simultaneously carried out examination of the wall paintings, the investigation of the wooden structure has been able to shed some light on the history of the building. A few of the walls prove to contain original, 15thcentury wattle-and-daub infills. The wood structure appears to also be mostly original, with historical template paintings still preserved on some beams and wall surfaces.
Using resistance drillings and material-technical surveys, we were able to draw up a treatment proposal while also considering future occupation of the historical property. Whilst formulating these guidelines, the high historical value of the building was taken into consideration.
We also monitored all insect activity in the building in order to map possible contamination by woodborers. Surprisingly, a very high amount of steely blue beetle (Korynetes caeruleus) was found during the monitoring period. This natural enemy of woodboring beetles uses the tunnels made by the larvae of wood-damaging insects in order to consume them. We stumbled upon an unexpected example of natural control of woodworm infestation.
