Portfolio 2020-2024

MAX RENÉ MEERE

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

SELECTED WORKS

THE TIME LINE

A

MULTI - PHASE PROJECT THAT RESPONDS TO BERLINS URBAN CHANGES

MSC

VISION

In Friedrichshain, Berlin, modest architecture with minimal interventions is utilized as a thoughtful response to the complex social and economic issues, including gentrification, that characterize the constantly evolving environment. This architectural approach seeks to tackle these challenges by embracing a restrained and humble style, while remaining flexible and responsive to the unique needs and dynamics of the local community it serves.

The vision on city scale is to establish a network system of public condensers, all designed within an interchangeable method. This approach can provide quick and sustainable solutions to the sites in all districts, reducing unnecessary construction and demolition of buildings.

On the urban scale, the method always strives to foster connectivity. It aims to establish connections not only between different parts of the city to improve urban infrastructure but also between individuals within their respective neighborhoods. To preserve heritage and minimize CO2 emissions, the method consistently emphasizes the adaptive reuse of its context. Through modest interventions, it achieves significant impacts on urban, social, and building scale.

Analysis of Berlins Gentrification trend.

INTERCHANGEABLE SYSTEM

URBAN CONNECTION

ADAPTIVE RE-USE

The true importance of architecture lies in its ability to solve human problems, not stylistic ones. A building is too permanent and too influential on public life and private comfort to be created primarily as 'public art'.

James Stewart Polshek

CONCEPT

To achieve the vision of a responsive structure, the sustainable concept of a permanent backbone with interchangable plug-in structures was chosen. The inspiration was drawn from different industry fields. In the phone and space industry robust bases facilitate responsive updates for durability and sustainability reasons. This idea can also be applied to buildings. Within the time-line project, the backbone guarantees infrastructure, structure, and routing, ensuring a flexible and programmable system.

1 BASE

2 CAMERA

3 BATTERY

4 MEMORY CARD

5 SPEAKERS

1 BASE

2 WENTIAN, RESEARCH STATION

3 MENGTIAN, RESEARCH STATION

4 TIANZHOU-2, UNMANNED CARGO SHIP

5 SHENZHOU-12, MANNED SPACESHIP

NAKAGIN CAPSULE TOWER - 1970

TOKYO Kurokawa

SAINSBURY CENTRE FOR VISUAL ARTS- 1974 NORWICH

SITE

PLATTENBAU BUILDING

Demolished

UTILITY BUILDING

Demolished

FORMER PAPER FACTORY

Adapted

1 BACKBONE

2 3D-PRINT WORKSHOP

3 DAYCARE

4 LIVING-ROOM

5 SPORTS GYM

ADAPTATION DETAILS

The added temporary library-structure of wood is placed demountable on wooden blocks.

The original roof panels are replaced with openable windows, introducing improved lighting and ventilation conditions.

ROOF LIGHTSTREET New roof windows

OLD PAPER FACTORY Black painted concrete structure encloses large programmable spaces.

BACKBONE STRUCTURE Routing + supply air

REMOVABLE WOODEN STRUCTURE Library + workspaces

BACKBONE DETAILS

Elegant in its simplicity, the structure of the screen is hooligan-resistant and possesses a permanent character.

A smart duct system is designed to allow functions and activities to utilize each other's exhaust-heated and cooled air.

SPACE TRUSS

Steel truss beams in combination with diagonals work as a rigid construction

CONTAINER VOLUMES various plug-in functions as daycare/ gym/ ateliers and

VENTILATION

Ducts surrounding the square for flexible plugin of functions

WATER

Water supply, sewerage system + re-use.

ELECTRICITY

Central cable tray.

visitor

5 PARTS OF THE SYSTEM

THE SCREEN

Constructed with a slim steel structure and cladded with a modest cohesive mesh of expanded metal, the screen houses installations to ensure the removable functions and activities that can be plugged-in.

THE CIRCLE

A large truss space frame links the new building to the existing structure. This integrated framework encloses a flexible arts installation plaza, while inside the bridge, a designated sculpture route guides visitors through an exhibition , showcasing art created by the inhabitants of Friedrichshain.

THE CORRIDOR

The corridor structure serves a dual purpose: controlling the climate within the old paper factory and providing a connecting route throughout the entire building. Within the flexible halls, there are various workspaces, a library, and a coffee corner, contributing to a

THE PERIMETER

The backbone structure follows the perimeter of the old building modestly, creating a roundwalk to get a different perspective on the events taking place in the flexible event hall.

THE SQUARE

On the end of the plot, a subtle multi-functional square is designed to accommodate large events. The sculptural pole structures within this square serve multiple functions, providing electricity for markets, vehicle charging, and street lighting. Additionally, the square can be expanded by pulling up festival tents, thereby enlarging the dancing floor of Berghain, a renowned venue.

Impression approach. Modest structure with a lively inside world.

Impression square. With minimal interventions a flexible and multi-programmable space is created.

MAKERS 4 FUTURE

Situated in the Rotterdam M4H Makers-District the Mega-building of the future houses more than 8 functions including housing and a data center. Designed within a multidisciplinary team of 5 students from different origin and study backgrounds.

MSC 2 Design Studio

MEGA building

students: 1 Arch. 2 B.T . 2 C.E. role: Architect

M4H- ROTTERDAM

Following the lines of the surroundings

Extending the so called Makers-Street for connection with the waterfront park

Two look a like towers presenting the Harbour and City as landmarks in between the two areas

Shape the highrise to the context, view, daylight and wind

Reshape the base to Human scale pixels to encourage encounter

Optimize by computational outcomes

CONCEPT

A vertical city is not a new concept in architecture. In this mega building, various functions of modern cities are clustered together under one roof. The building houses a distribution center, data center, fabrication laboratory, offices, residences, hotel, and restaurant, all working together in a sustainable and efficient short supply chain.

The program, arranged within two towers standing at almost 150 meters tall, along with a public open atrium, is strategically situated for optimal functionality. The distribution center is located at the ground floor along the water, ensuring excellent accessibility. Meanwhile, the hotel surrounds the data center, utilizing its excess heat, while also providing the best view and daylight exposure to the south. This thoughtful positioning and circular design approach result in a sustainable and eco-friendly architectural design.

HUMAN SCALE IN A MEGA BUILDING DESIGN

The F4M building stands as a landmark in the makers district area. Its impressive visibility can be observed from kilometers away. Yet, what makes it truly remarkable is the central atrium, formed by carefully crafted cuts in the base, which exhibit a sophisticated and intricate design at a human scale. This design approach prioritizes and emphasizes encounters and interactions, creating a space that fosters meaningful connections among individuals.

The design aims to achieve the highest level of sustainability by implementing closed loops that prevent any flow of energy, heat, waste, or water from escaping the building. All functions in the building enrich each other on the technical and the social aspect.

Results of the radiation analysis in Grasshopper and visualisation of the results from 'DesignExplorer'

Sunlight hours analysis with Ladybug - Lower tower

GEOMETRY: LOWER TOWER

CONTEXT: SHADERS ON THE FACADES + SURROUNDING GEOMETRIES

ANALYSIS PERIOD: SUMMER

DEPTH OF THE ‘‘OFFICE’’ SHADERS: 0.2 m

DEPTH OF THE ‘‘HOUSE’’ SHADERS: 0.4 m

TOTAL SUNLIGHT HOURS: 224784.481057 h

PHILOSOPHY

video of project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJKvn34JL_E

Impression landmark rising from its surroundings

Impression atrium transparant layering showing the area's character

MATERIALIZATION

The two wooden towers not only symbolize innovative and sustainable design but also embody the connection between the city and the harbor of Rotterdam. At ground level, the towers seamlessly intertwine, utilizing characteristic re-used corten steel sheet piles that rise from the Dutch ground to enclose the refined and pixelated indoor passage. This passage beautifully showcases the character of the makers district in a layered and transparent way, promoting interaction among individuals.

Wooden panelling for shading PV panels for energy generation. Sprinklers for fire safety, cleaning of PV panels and watering of plants.

Three types of Corten-Steel louvres are designed to subdivide different functions behind the facade.

Re-used sheet piles stick 'naturally' out of the ground, forming the base of the Mega Building.

1:5

RTHE HAAG R OPIA

THE HAGUE AGRICULTURE UTOPIA

The Hague is going to have a new Educational Innovation Center on Urban Agriculture. The new landmark Haagropia learns us about the challanges our world is facing. Especially overpopulation that comes with a shortage of space to produce food.

CLIMATE | SUSTAINABILITY

A more sustainable building at a renovation project can easily be achieved by using all new techniques. However it is a challenge to first look at other possibilities like reuse and smart use of nature.

Haagropia is an utopia but at the same time it is just in front of us. A building that not only shows people reuse and sustainability but also educates and inspires them.

CLIMATE | VENTILATION

With an Air Handling Unit a balanced ventilation is achieved. By displacement ventilation the air will be circulated through the urban agriculture center, through the second greenhousefacade, through the restaurant back to the unit. In the unit the heat or cold will be recovered before this air will be exhausted.

The unit is placed on the park side of the building so the air suction is from cleaned air by the trees. The air will still be cleaned from fine dust and moisture.

CLIMATE | WATER

The greenhouse roof of the restaurant will catch a lot of water per year. About 700.000 liters will normally drain into the earth, not used at all.

After the renovation of the Bridgebuilding the lettuce on your plate in the restaurant will be made possible by the water harvested on the roof.

If you don’t believe this you should take some stairs down to see it with your own eyes.

700.000 l/y will need a storage of 5%. This makes 35m3 in total. Three storeys have a capacity of 14.5m3 each.

REUSEOFGREENHOUSEROOFASSECONDFACADE

REUSE OF MATERIALS| GREENHOUSE

TRANSPARANT SOLARPANELS

(50-80% LIGHT TRANSMISSION)

MIRROR REFLECTION CREATES DIFFUSE

LIGHT DEEP INTO THE BUILDING

AEROPONIC SYSTEM, VEGETABLES ARE

SPRAYED WITH NUTRIENT RICH WATER AND

ILLUMINATED BY LED LIGHT

ADJUSTABLE IN HEIGHT BY MECHANIZED

PULLEY SYSTEM TO WORK AS SUNSHADE

REUSE OF SHADE CLOTH TO BLOCK DIRECT SUN AND HEAT, ATTACHED TO LOWER VEGETABLE CONTAINER

REPLACEMENT VENTILATION BY

DETAIL 2nd FACADE|

New finishing floor with heating

Isokorph concrete-steel

DETAIL OVERHANG|

sound insulation (Glass wool 120mm)

Mechanized pulley

Steel

Welded L-profile on the end of the T-profile to

Steel console (T-beam)

VICTORIASTADT LOFTS

Large adaptive re-use project of the former train brake factory in Friedrichshain, Berlin. After a thorough feasibility study and historical research into the DNA of the existing structure, a well-considered and respectful design has been developed. Interventions on the roof, within the courtyards, and to the structure together create a new vibrant cultural hub within its surroundings.

FRIEDRICHSHAIN - BERLIN

PHYSICAL MODEL

The physical model for the project 'Victoriastadt Lofts' was created by four interns following an intense concept design phase. This model was used as a presentation model on site to demonstrate the adaptive re-use design of the former train brake factory.

As a design assistant, I was entrusted with designing and overseeing the physical model's production process.

Scale: 1:200

Dimensions: 1400 x 800 x 300 mm

Type: Presentation

MODELLFOTO

ILE SEGUIN

Significant multi-functional project on the Island of Ile Seguin in Paris, France. This successful competition win on the site of the former Renault factory encompasses offices, commercial spaces, a food court, and sports facilities.

ILE SEGUIN - PARIS

PHYSICAL MODEL

After a long competition to build on the Ile Seguin island in Paris, BIG won and got the permission to build. This model is a high quality schematic design model meaning that the building models are removable in case of changes to the design.

Scale: 1:200

Dimensions: 2400 x 1000 x 500 mm

Type: Schematic/ Presentation

‘SPEEL MEER’

A robust design for a playground and community house in an underserved neighborhood in Amsterdam. The design prioritizes social safety by incorporating subtle nighttime lighting and maintaining transparency from the street to the square.

Municipality

JOUBERTSTRAAT - AMSTERDAM

PV panels and an heat pump make the building self-sufficient for its energy use.

The vibrant colors of the expanded metal refer to the differentiation in brick colors in the neighbourhood.

Visualisation Square view

Visualisation Night view

‘REEL IT IN’

A temporary watchtower situated at the new railway zone of Delft, constructed from the historic cable reels that show the characterful historical development of the city of Delft.

SPOORZONE - DELFT

An intelligently designed and user-friendly assembly instruction, reminiscent of IKEA's approach, illustrates the straightforward process of assembling and disassembling the tower for relocation to its next destination.

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Small paintings made by inhabitants of Delft.

“Delft, the social power of the city. A city where all residents, entrepreneurs, organizations work together to their own ability to create a strong Delft.”

IN2VISUALS

A project involving the establishment of a small rendering company aimed at enhancing our skills, knowledge, and networking opportunities. We've independently designed the entire company, affording us the freedom to explore innovative methods of presenting and communicating projects.

STAND igg.

Re-design of the Provada stand of igg. Bouweconomie. The wooden module structure of the existing stand is re-used in a more open and inviting configuration. The new design is folded inwards to create a low treshold presentation area. A clear plan allows to give presentations while chats at the bar and the product counter can go on.