Discover Benelux | Top Architects in the Netherlands | Creating Quality of Life
Building a sustainable city TEXT: ARNE ADRIAENSSENS | PHOTOS: LUCAS VAN DER WEE
Not that long ago there was a lost area in the heart of the city of Utrecht, today it is a modern, vibrant neighbourhood. By transforming the old air-force headquarters into a contemporary office district, the architects of cepezed have achieved something the government of Utrecht was aspiring to do for years: making the city greener and more sustainable. Since 1989, the district west of Utrecht Central Station was disfigured by the fortified headquarters of the Dutch air force. The heavy, depressing bunker, made out of concrete, became a symbol of the obsolescence of the neighbourhood. Recently, the Dutch architect’s office cepezed sunk its teeth into the mammoth structure, transforming it into the modern public office complex De Knoop. Yet, the spirit of the original building still drifts through the light-flooded corridors. “A transformation is more difficult than starting from scratch,” cepezed director Ronald Schleurholts explains. “Before you can create something, you have to 28 | Issue 59 | November 2018
analyse the existing building with all its peculiarities and flaws. Only then can you decide which aspects you want to keep, and which ones have to go.” The most visual souvenirs of the old army headquarters are the heavy concrete columns supporting the weight of the building. “You shouldn’t try to erase the original architecture,” Schleurholts continues. “You should preserve its unique value and character. The building should be an inspiration rather than a hurdle.” Having said that, the building is next-to-unrecognisable. In contrast to the original tower, De Knoop is flooded in daylight and has an open and spacious personality. These are two key things that typify the overall portfolio of cepezed. “We design buildings from the inside out,” Schleurholts continues. “We start by satisfying the needs of those who will live and work there. Is there enough daylight? Are there spots to relax in? Is it easy to navigate? Once we’ve tackled those issues, we’ll wrap it up with a nice façade.”
Built for a century Apart from remodelling the building itself, cepezed was asked to create a restaurant on the empty space next to it. It will be temporary, though, lasting 15 years. At the end of this, the city of Utrecht will start another construction project and therefore the initial construction has to go. That inspired Schleurholts and its team to create The Green House, a completely demountable restaurant that grows its own vegetables. “Building temporary constructions goes against our ecological DNA. We don’t want to use valuable materials for 15 years only. That’s why we avoided welding everything together and used screws instead so that the building can be disassembled and rebuilt again. We believe it can be afoot for a century, just not always on the same location.” This long-term vision urges them to use proper and sustainable materials, that can stand the test of time. To make it even more eco-friendly, they furnished the building with recycled resources. The