This year, the former Philips Lighting office in the centre of Eindhoven was transformed into 616 short stay lofts and penthouses. It was designed by Diederendirrix. Travertine façade planes and gold-coloured aluminium window frames create a luxurious effect. The deep apartments are bathed in natural light because of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The middle part of the three-piece windows can slide down all the way. This way, each apartment has an original version of a French balcony.

Join us at Architects meet Architects on 15 November! An inspiring afternoon specifically for architects who want to be inspired by the unprecedented opportunities of aluminium detailing in design. In addition, attention will be paid to the 10^th anniversary of magazine Aluminium In Praktijk.

Lecture
Joost Roefs of Diederendirrix Architecture & Urban Development will conduct a lecture on, among other things, aesthetic aluminium applications in renovations and new developments.

View the full program and sign up on icdubo.nl

Amidst all the tower blocks and skyscrapers in Zuidas, OpZuid is refreshingly different. The small-scale complex with a handful of homes has an unusual, almost foreign flavour.

Green oasis
Situated between Gershwinlaan and De Boelelaan, OpZuid is an expansive green oasis amidst the urban grid of Amsterdam’s financial district. The two symmetrical blocks enclose a green courtyard garden, their terraced design opening out to the sun and to the Boelegracht running alongside. Connecting the two buildings are several extended balconies that interrupt the formal exterior shell of the north façade. The courtyard garden is a world unto itself. All the trees here are maples, while the planting of small shrubs beneath spans hues ranging from white to light yellow.

Read the full article in Hello Zuidas

Since the beginning of this week there have been two large cranes at the TD [Technical Services] building in Eindhoven. The façade is stripped to make room for new balconies. The ash-grey plates on the outside of the TD building make way for lighter, wavy balconies. This transformation from ugly duckling to beautiful swan will take shape in the next six months. Demolition company Heezen started this noticeable work this week. Two large cranes will help this process over the coming months.

Rental apartments
About 160 high-end rental apartments of varying sizes will be built in the former Technical Service’s office building. Foolen & Reijs Vastgoed won the Amvest commission and bought the premises for 7 million euro from the city of Eindhoven. The ground floor will feature some facilities for both residents and visitors of the park: food and drink establishments with a terrace, a gym and physiotherapy.

The plan of architect firm diederendirrix has now been approved by the Environmental Quality commission. At the request of the city of Eindhoven and the neighbourhood, a fourth wing (in which also a supermarket was planned) to expand the premises will not be built, nor will there be more floors to elevate the building. Only the 10 metre high structure will be replaced by one floor of penthouses three metres high.

Read the full article in the Eindhovens Dagblad

Philips’ old factory buildings are characteristic of Eindhoven’s Strijp district. In the 1920s, the factory’s first major expansion was built in this district, which is located just outside the city centre. Building Anton was part of the expansion and together with three other impressive buildings in the same row it constituted a factory street where radios were manufactured. The buildings were connected by footbridges, so that the radio parts could be moved internally from building to building. This extremely introvert industrial enclave has slowly changed into an open, lively district in recent years.

Sensitive approach

The repurposing of Building Anton requires a sensitive approach. The characteristic, white factory building is part of the city’s genesis and is a listed building. For a while, the premises were used as a Philips office after the manufacturing of radios ceased at this location. In the 1980s it was provisionally patched up. Some ten years later the company withdrew from Strijp. The building had been empty for years when diederendirrix architecture & urban development started the project – to breathe new life into the building – in 2009.

Read the full article in Tektoniek

The annual diederendirrix excursion 2016 went via Hostel Wadi Kasterlee, the Freinetschool Lille and the Abdij van Averbode to Antwerp. In Antwerp Team Stadsbouwmeester gave us an explanation on the urban development of the city, we also had a guided tour through ‘t Groen Kwartier.

On Saturday we visited Gate15, the ‘House of the Student’ and nursery (and dwellings) the Koekendoos. We gained a lot of inspiration! The photo is taken on the bridge which connects Park Spoor Noord with ‘t Eilandje.

Former world-class athlete Nelli Cooman, together with alderman Gert Vos,  officially opened sports complex Het Activum in the Bentinckspark this afternoon. It was a smashing start, culminating in lighting the ‘Olympic flame’. The opening was impressive, but what impressed even more was the new construction. This led to many ohs and ahs during the guided tours.

Parachute jump

The sun comes out while the dancers of Tresor Dance Center give a dazzling show. Exactly at the same time, a parachute glides through the air above Het Activum. The duo jump, with alderman Gert Vos as turns out later, lands safely in the centre of the athletics track. Meanwhile, youngsters of various sports clubs are going around the track with two-time world champion and national sporting hero Nelli Cooman, who is holding a burning torch. The former world-class athlete and the alderman then light the ‘Olympic flame’ together.

Read the full article in the Hoogeveensche Courant

Out of the 41 entries for the Reynaers Projectprijs 2016, ten projects have been nominated. Eisma Content Marketing is making a film of each nominated project, in which the architect explains his design. The ten films will be available for viewing on Reynaers’ website in November, so the public can vote. The project with the most votes will win the Reynaers Project Price 2016 and 2,500 euro. In addition, Reynaerds will donate 2,500 euro to a good architectural cause, to be decided in consultation with the winner.

One of the ten nominated projects is Philips Lighting, the transformation from office to more than 600 studios.

Read the article on Architectuur.nl