ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Willem II Passage in Tilburg, The Netherlands by Civic architectsAugust 11th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Civic architects Augmented Brickwork – Public Railway Passage Tilburg The Willem II-passage is a new public space, that connects the historical inner-city of Tilburg with the railway redevelopment area ‘De Spoorzone’. CIVIC architects together with Bright, designed an award-winning sequence of spaces which seamlessly tie together architecture, public space, cultural heritage and traffic space. A specifically designed and produced glass brick façade creates a familiar but surprisingly striking effect.
 Image Courtesy © Stijn Bollaert
 Image Courtesy © Stijn Bollaert Public domain The Willem II-passage is an import public route for cyclists and pedestrians, enlarging and improving the public domain in Tilburg. It extends the historical Willem II street under the railway and functions as an inviting gateway to the once forgotten city ‘on the wrong side of the tracks’. The passage runs straight through a former railway workshop building and links a new restaurant, a public terrace and the former workers garden to both sides of the city. The passage catalyzes the transit oriented redevelopment of the Spoorzone and also accommodates cultural events.  Image Courtesy © Stijn Bollaert  Image Courtesy © Kees Hummel Homegrown icon The design of the underpass is based on its public significance and cultural durability. Its iconic identity is inspired by the existing city. The materials, rhythm and composition of the passage refer to the classical brick architecture of the Willem II street – in a contemporary manner. The design combines the familiarity with the traditions of the city with innovative materials and urban atmospheres. In a process of designing, prototyping, testing and tinkering, together with Philips Lighting and Van Tetterode Glass Studio, we developed a refined but robust luminous glass brick façade. Technology is not leading – it simply does what it is supposed to do and will operate for decades to come, succeeding where outdated hightech has failed.  Image Courtesy © Richard Boerop  Image Courtesy © Richard Boerop A familiar surprise The Willem II passage portrays a typical urban sequence. A cross section through the rich (industrial) past and future of the city. The passage feels familiar: The composition of the plinth, the wall and its ceiling are a contemporary interpretation of the classic composition of the Willem II street, turning the passage into a natural part of the urban network. Familiar and at the same time surprising is the use of material: The facade is constructed with 30.000 handmade glazed ’bricks’. Brick is a common material in Tilburg, in the Spoorzone applied on an industrial scale and in the Willem II street small-scale, in the detailed manner of typical Dutch facades.  Image Courtesy © Roderick van Klink  Image Courtesy © Stijn Bollaert Innovative craftsmanship The passage is technically innovative. It consists of robust hardware (floors, ceilings and facades) and interactive software (lighting, odor and sound). The design for the façade is daring: the wall structure inspires and directs the light effects and vice versa. The facade is constructed with a newly developed type of glass. It has been the oven several times to obtain the current texture and transparency. It is an example of 21st century craftsmanship: it combines craft artistry with a one-time large-scale application. The unique glass product has been widely applied using a scaled-up craft manufacturing process.  Image Courtesy © Kees Hummel  Image Courtesy © Kees Hummel Hybrid of physical and digital experiences The passage is socially safe, while refraining from conventional safety devices. Interactivity fades into the background, merging with familiar elements such as stone, steel, green. Approximately 30,000 built-in LEDs create a stunning effect. A unique algorithm generates dynamic light effects that are responsive to the time of the day, weather and movement of passers-by. During the day, the walls are white-gray, its bricks massive. During the night, the light increases; patterns appear. The architecture of the Willem II passage leaves a lasting impression that is designed to be intriguing both in 30 days and 30 years after completion. Familiar, self-evident and robust. Innovative, rich and refined. The passage is built to last. The jury of the Dutch Design Award praises the design for its design, durability and social performance  Image Courtesy © Stijn Bollaert  Image Courtesy © Civic architects  Image Courtesy © Civic architects  Image Courtesy © Civic architects  Image Courtesy © Civic architects  Image Courtesy © Civic architects
Contact Civic architects
Tags: The Netherlands, Tilburg Category: public spaces |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
email
Facebook
Twitter
RSS Feed
