STRIKING ARCHITECTURE CREATES NEW DUTCH LANDMARK
Whilst every building has an impact on its environment, only a very
few become landmarks. One such building is the recently completed
‘het Bouwhuis’ situated in an exposed location near the A12 highway
at Zoetermeer in the Netherlands.
Fittingly, the building is the headquarters of the Dutch
Construction Industry Association (Bouwend Nederland, de vereniging
van bouw- en infrabedrijven), and so was subject to great scrutiny
during both the design and construction phases. The construction
ethos called for a combination of traditional and modern techniques
to achieve a striking look whilst at the same time acting as a
showcase for many of the Association’s members.
Following a design competition, Rotterdam-based architects Klunder
Architecten were appointed architects. Their design features a
stunning treatment of the top two floors of the building which house
the Training Centre – the two floors projecting almost 20 metres out
from the other storeys, at a height of 40 metres. On top of this
2,500m2 area is a roof garden complete with seven metre tall trees.
Due to the overall construction, there are no columns or central
pillars, providing the building owners with a highly flexible
internal space.
The building also features 50cm diameter steel struts which, as well
as providing a distinctive aesthetic feature, with the struts joined
together with large screw-bolt-connections, also give the building
the necessary stability.
Critical to the overall appearance of the building was the treatment
of the façade, which were required to provide both clean lines and
as well as adding to the overall character of the building. After
considering various material alternatives, Klunder decided to draw
on the experience of leading materials manufacturer Agrob Buchtal
Architectural Ceramics. At the early planning stage, the grid size
(60 x 20 cm) of the tiles was taken into account so rigorously that
more than 99 of the façade surface area could be installed without
the need for any cutting on site. Bright white tiles were specified
creating a powerful landmark in the local environment.
To maintain the bright appearance of the ceramic tiles, they were
specified with the company’s Hydrotect® coating. This revolutionary
surface treatment is baked into the glaze as part of the firing
process and provides a number of key benefits. Because of its
hydrophilic property (i.e. water attracting), falling rain water
forms a thin film which washes down dirt and grime, providing a
‘self-washing’ effect. In addition, Hydrotect® has an antibacterial
effect, ensuring that micro-organisms such as fungi, algae, moss and
germs are decomposed, ensuring that the issue of algae and moss
growth on building facades is efficiently eliminated - without the
need for chemicals.
Additionally, exhaust fumes form cars and factories are also
eliminated So effective is this action that scientific tests have
shown that a 1,000m² Hydrotect® façade has the same air cleaning
ability as 70, medium-sized deciduous trees.
Het Bouwhuis is an exemplar of Dutch structural engineering and its
ability to deliver efficient construction. One innovative approach
saw the use of the innovative ‘file to share’ computer programme
which was available for the whole construction team to access -
providing accurate, real time data. The programme also performed
‘Clash Detection’, looking for contradictions between design and
execution - any conflicts were identified and resolved at an early
stage.
Overall, het Bouwhuis is a striking project in many ways. From the
careful design and planning to the precise execution and the
innovative use of material combinations the project presents a wide
range of exceptional features. The building is impressive because of
its daring architecture, well-proportioned surfaces and an
interesting use of materials. No wonder that the building has
already become an established landmark on the A12 and established
itself as the new home of the Construction Industry Association.
Email:
barry@objectivecomms.co.uk
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