Company office building for Immoquatro in Gent, Belgium by B2Ai

Article source: B2Ai

How architecture improves the quality of the daily work

Around 25 staff is working for Accountancy Service in the new office building.
The plot has a level difference across twelve meters: the garden lies approximately 90cm lower than the front garden strip at street level. This natural slope was incorporated into the design for the new office building. It was decided not to use the garden for parking; parking is accommodated below the building. By raising the volume of the new structure marginally from street level, space was created without the need for a deep excavation. This allows all-round daylight to penetrate the car and bicycle parking level and gives the impression that the building is floating.

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

• Architects: B2Ai
• Project: Company office building for Immoquatro
• Location: Gent-Mariakerke, Belgium
• Photography: Bart Heijnens
• Floor area: 6.634 m²
• EPB: E37 – K33
• Status: Completed in 2015

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

The meeting rooms to the front buffer the busy Brugsevaart, whilst the offices enjoy the view on to the garden and the park beyond. There is a meeting room on the next level and a dining space with a terrace. The third level houses the technical installations.

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

It was the client’s desire to realise a sustainable and attractive building. The main challenge was to integrate the structure and technical installations as well as possible into the architecture. The solution settled upon the concept of creating an elevation formed of exposed white slats of structural concrete which work as sun protection, whilst fulfilling their support function. These concrete elements determined the principal architectural appearance of the building.

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Rainwater is recycled and the roofs to the ground and first floor levels are supplied with an extensive green roof. There are 27 solar panels on the roof and the building benefits from the installation of a heat pump. The ceilings are so called cooling ceilings, which both heats and cools the spaces to create a pleasant interior climate.

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Heat is generated by two separate installations: a geothermal heat pump and a condensing gas boiler to supply hot water to the sanitary spaces.

Protection from the sun can be adjusted per room which allows for the position and direction of the sun, wind and precipitation. Due to the above, the office building achieves an E-level of 37.

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © Bart Heijnens

Image Courtesy © B2Ai

Image Courtesy © B2Ai

Image Courtesy © B2Ai

Image Courtesy © B2Ai

Image Courtesy © B2Ai

Image Courtesy © B2Ai

Tags: Belgium, Gent

Categories: Building, Offices

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