Belgian Workshop Building, Loos Architects, Belgian Design, Schoten Project Photos

Werkhuis Dienst Scheepvaart : Schoten Building

Contemporary Schoten Development, Belgium architecture design by LOOS architects

14 Feb 2007

Werkhuis Dienst Scheepvaart Schoten

Location: Schoten, near Antwerp, Belgium

Design: LOOS architects

Schoten Building Belgium images / information from Loos Architects130207

Werkhuis Dienst Scheepvaart, Belgium

The workshop building is located in a context of sculptural industrial buildings along the Albertkanaal, a canal connecting the cities of Antwerp and Luik. Our task was to design an inexpensive building that houses an extraordinary multitude of functions:

a concierge apartment, an office space, a meeting room, a cafeteria, changing rooms, a wood and a metal workshop, a garage and an outside storage space.

In order to keep the plot free of clutter, LOOS architects decided to integrate the storage zone into the volume, literally increasing the substance of the workshop building. The required fence around the plot “shrinks to fit”: Instead of encircling the whole plot, it becomes a protective skin for the building. In fact it forms an inexpensive façade with an intriguing moiré effect, through which its black hypodermis, consisting of insulation material, remains visible.

Inside, the workshops and storage spaces are situated in the body and tail of the building, while the more complex functions are fittingly located in its head. An incision marking the main entrance splits the head into two: One part facing the West and containing the cafeteria and office space, the other facing the South and housing the concierge apartment which has a loggia looking out over the canal.

The result is a beastlike structure that can easily compete with its older neighbours when it comes to sculptural shape and recognizability.

Werkhuis Dienst Scheepvaart – Building Information

Winning design for selection Open Oproep

Workshop building with mixed functions (offices, atelier,
storage space, changing rooms and concierge apartment)

Client: Dienst Scheepvaart, Hasselt, BE

Design: Miguel Loos (LOOS architects) with HUB (Koen Drossaert)

Team: Sara Strux, Joost Verheus, Nono van der Veen, Michael Durgerdam, Dorothee Holtgrewe, Katarina Vranova

Contractor: Brebuild, Antwerpen

Structural engineer: Bureau Architectuur en Stabiliteit, Hasselt

Technical Advisors: Bureau Bouwtechniek, Antwerpen

Design – realization: 2002-06

Building costs: € 1.3000.000 (excl. VAT)

Floor area: 2.375 m2

Photography: Allard van der Hoek, Baron G.A. Tindalplein 213, NL-1019 TW Amsterdam allard.hoek(at)freeler.nl

Location: Schoten, Belgium, western Europe

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image courtesy of architects
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