Doing business from a living room

Visitors are often astonished upon entering the Bastion Real Estate offices on Mijlweg in Vianen for the first time. “Wow, is this really a business unit? It seems more like a comfortable, welcoming living room?!”

“Welcome home,” is the warm greeting at this real estate developer, who specialises in the development, construction and management of high-quality residential dwellings. 

John van der Ham, Marianne van Nifterik and Joost van Rooijen are the driving forces behind Bastion Real Estate, which was formed three years ago, and they feel very much at home here. “I love being here,” says John with a satisfied smile on his face.

Test of collaboration

They bought this Layers unit in 2023 and did most of the design and layout work themselves. When it was transferred to them, the unit was completely bare and they took care of the design and the finishing. This even included installing a complete kitchen. “That was certainly the ultimate test of collaboration!” Marianne laughs.

Ambition

And to think that it may be only a temporary premises for them. Bastion Real Estate got off to a good start and they are now envisaging a move to an even bigger ‘home office’ in about two years. “We still anticipate excellent opportunities in the real estate sector. That goes not just for outstanding locations in which to build sorely needed, suitable residential properties but also for our own premises.” They briefly considered buying an empty shop in the centre of Vianen but eventually opted for Layers on a business park on the south side of the town.

Standing out

The question ‘but why a business unit?’ yields a range of answers. John, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, praises the quality: “It is quite simply well built. A lot of effort has gone into it.” Marianne is particularly taken by the design and the distinctive architecture: “These units have their own identity. It’s a refreshing design that helps Layers stand out from the traditional bog-standard business spaces that are so often the norm.”

Passionate entrepreneurs

They have good contact with the other businesses in the 24 units Layers has created here. This includes being part of their own messaging group, for example. As with Bastion, there are many other passionate, amazing entrepreneurs here. Such as the printer who produces the most fantastic books and catalogues. Or the lighting developer who designs light shows for famous music festivals and various major artists. And let’s not forget the man behind the nut stall, who occasionally hands out containers of nuts to his fellow entrepreneurs, always with a smile on his face.

Inspiring

Bastion has put a lot of effort into the design of their unit. For example, they brought the striking joinery features from the outside wall inside, before refining them in the interior. It is just one of the many interventions they carried out. And all that for perhaps ‘only’ two years? Joost: “Sure, because it inspires us and our customers. You can fill a room with rubbish or you can turn it into something joyous. We prefer the latter option.”

Helping others

A bastion is part of a fortification that provides safety and security, and safety is also a prerequisite for the homes John, Marianne and Joost develop. Their current premises radiate this from all perspectives. As true real estate specialists, they think very carefully about the future and have already done so with regard to their ‘living room’. Marianne: “We are pleased with how well we have started with our young company, and we are helping someone else in the same direction. We are working in partnership with a young and highly promising entrepreneur to whom we’d like to give a similar opportunity. So it may be that we’ll be selling or renting the unit to him in the near future.”

Bastion Real Estate
Layers Vianen