Sports centre Het Activum is virtually ready. The final touches are being done at present. Sports clubs can already use the complex in September. The official opening will take place on 7 and 8 October.

New Bentickspark almost ready

The opening of Het Activum marks the near-completion of the new Bentinckspark. The sports centre is the heart of the park. Het Activum consists of two sports halls and a gym; a top-class sports hall measuring 56 by 28 meters and a height of 9 meters, a sports hall measuring 44 by 24 meters and a height of 7 meters, and a gym measuring 14 by 22 meters and a height of 5.5 meters.

2100 seats in the stands

A walkway round the two sports halls and gym will be located on the first floor, so that the audience has a good view of the sportsmen and women. The top-class sports hall has 1100 fixed seats in the stands. The capacity can be extended to 2100, allowing for large-scale events to take place. There will be twelve changing rooms and a joint sports bar for the users of the athletics track and Het Activum. The north side of het Activum can be expanded with units for paramedics and other functions on the interface of education, sports, exercise and health. In addition, Het Activum also has to contribute to the municipal sustainability ambitions. Thus, the building ‘without gas’ is connected to the Thermal Energy Storage for its heat supply and is fed by the mains water of the WMD. In the future, electric power will be generated by solar panels installed on the roof of het Activum.

Read the full article in the Hoogeveense Courant

 

They somewhat go against the flow, the architects of diederendirrix from Eindhoven. At least, when other parties in the construction process say that something is impossible – while the architect firm is trying to push the boundaries of material use and façade character – the research will be shifted up a gear in order to get widespread approval. “Of course, provided that everything in terms of technology, cost and solution for the client is realistic both now and in the future,” architect Timo Keulen says. “Various examples of precast concrete show that our search leads to surprising façades which make those same parties extremely enthusiastic.”

“Isn’t it beautiful when you can make the façades of a building special with a material? When you can add a sort of layer that creates expressiveness?” Therefore, Timo Keulen and his fellow architects try to retrieve power of expression and tactility from a material, whether it is wood, metal, concrete or another façade material. “Concrete often gives extra satisfaction and adds an extra element of surprise, because in a façade it’s generally seen as bare, meagre and even somewhat shabby. Looking at the way concrete as a material has evolved in recent years and how you can create special surfaces with photo prints, relief, pattern imprinting mats and beautiful refinements such as shining and polishing – you can even add a sort of patina to a concrete layer and make it future-proof – this material is, in my view, ideally suited for architectural expression.”

Read the full article in B:ton

The church, chapel and the former boarding school for boys and grammar school of Mariënhage will be repurposed. DELA creates a contemporary place here. Repurposing design by diederendirrix and architecten-en-en.

Watch the short film of the Province of Noord-Brabant

’t Karregat community centre in Eindhoven looked dreary after years of degradation. The renovation was put out to European tender and diederendirrix & architecten-en-en formed an ad-hoc collaboration for this project, because they both set their mind on it. They won the tender and made a functional building out of the original open, yet dysfunctional plan of architect Frank van Klingeren.

Read the full article on Architectuur.nl

A former faculty building is being converted into a residential tower on the TU/e campus. The 441 studios will be completed in August.

There is a magnificent view from the lofts on the 14^th floor of Camelot Campus La Luna on the TU/e grounds: in the far distance you can see the radio tower in Mierlo, Gulbergen and the Brigidakerk. On the other side you can see far towards Tilburg. In the converted TU building that used to be called Potentiaal, the lofts are fully furnished and provided with fixtures and fittings. Including a bed, armchair and table. Downstairs in the basement and on the ground floor, there are communal spaces, including a bar. In addition, there will be a supermarket, a day-care centre, a launderette and a coffee bar. The studios will be completed by the end of August, the rest of the building by mid November.

Read the full article in the Eindhovens Dagblad

 

At the moment, Mariënhage monastery is still a haven of peace. But the Augustinian fathers are moving and the monastery and its surroundings will become the domain of Eindhoven residents and hotel guests.

All political parties are enthusiast about Dela’s plan to redevelop the enormous, monumental monastery complex in the centre of Eindhoven. The garden becomes public space, the old school is turned into a hotel and conference area, and the Paterskerk is converted into a ‘ceremony space’ for Dela. Altar and sacristy are accommodated elsewhere on the complex. Sunlight will soon enter where the confessional boxes currently are.

“Fantastic that this is being preserved; the history of the city starts here,” city archaeologist Nico Arts says.

Read the full article in the Eindhovens Dagblad

 

Many industrial heritage sites are abandoned and empty or in danger of being demolished. Unfortunately, many old textile factory sites have already been torn down and replaced by houses and parking places. Only a few buildings were repurposed. Examples of beautiful repurposed buildings are Mommers en Dröge factory complex on the Goirkestraat and Thomas de Beer factory on the Wilhelminapark (now Museum De Pont).

Buildings were also saved from demolition in other places. De Ploeg weaving mill in Bergeijk, for example. This factory, designed in the ‘50s by Gerrit Rietveld, is an icon of industrial heritage of the province of Noord-Brabant. The curved saw-tooth roofs and the garden around the factory laid out by Mien Ruys are special. In 2007, the factory was closed and the building was recently bought by Bruns. The transformation based on a diederendirrix’ design is currently being carried out.

The Schellensfabriek on the Vestdijk in Eindhoven will have a sort of organic repurposing: the city brewery, designers and small workshops will be accommodated in this complex.

Although the textile industry disappeared more than half a century ago, we still cherish many memories. This story with images mainly shows the textile industry in the province of Brabant in the early twentieth century. It looks at textile cities such as Tilburg, Eindhoven and Helmond, but also at surrounding villages such as Goirle, Boxtel, Waalre, Geldrop and Bergeijk.

Read the story with images ‘From human to machine: Textile industry in Noord-Brabant’ in inbrabant, magazine for the heritage of Noord-Brabant province.

NEZZT WINS COMPETITION ‘LIBERATED LIVING, YOUR IDEAL TINY HOUSE IN ALMERE’

Tiny Housing is everywhere. The enthusiasm for this phenomenon has grown strongly lately. In February, the city of Almere – in collaboration with Het Woningbouwatelier – organised a competition, aimed at new ideas related to housing. NEZZT entered.  

Worldwide, the Tiny House Movement makes out a case for a different type of house than usual. It is not important to have a big house; Tiny House focuses on efficient housing. Affordability, sustainability, an unique character and a form of ‘liberated living’ are its main principles. The movement began in the US, but it already has many sympathisers in the Netherlands as well.

Competition ‘Liberated living’

The BouwEXPO 2016/2017 wants to be the driving force behind an innovative, affordable and sustainable construction movement which represents a form of ‘liberated living’. As part of the BouwEXPO 2016/2017, the city of Almere – in collaboration with Het Woningbouwatelier – organised an ideas competition, aimed at innovative ideas related to housing. The winners of the competition ‘Liberated Living, Your Ideal Tiny House in Almere’ were announced on Wednesday 6 July. Under the watchful eye of Minister Blok (Housing and Public Works), a professional jury, under the chairmanship of mayor Weerwind, announced the winners. NEZZT won in the Tiny Housing Permanent category. The winners receive an option on a building location and can then start realising their Tiny House.

A collective of knowledge and experience

‘Living spaciously in a small place’ is a NEZZT (DEMEEUW, diederendirrix architecture & urban development and C-twee) production. On this principle they presented a shared vision: small is nice. Especially when you can live spaciously in a small place. With comfort, unique quality and a personal interior. Compact and highly efficient. Sustainable and energy efficient because of advanced technology.

The design

‘Living spaciously in a small place’ is based on one unique idea: a multifunctional base with a fixed square format of 30m2. With an interior that adapts the house to the desired space in less than no time. 30m2 is a perfect base for eating, relaxing, partying or meeting. More than that: the interior continuously adapts to the daily-changing needs. This way, the house will be used to its full potential daily.

There are plenty of possibilities to fulfill living needs. For clever, flexible wall units can be used for different living scenarios. With one simple move, the living room becomes a bedroom, a dining room, a party room or a cinema. A space the way you want it, when you want it.

The linked façade panels refer to the characteristic crops and subdivided fields of Flevoland province. Each field with its own use and character in the different seasons. Likewise, the cluster that moves with the various moments of the day. The use of its residents determines how it is experienced from the inside and the outside. Our Tiny Houses live.

Read the full press release

When it comes to transformation, Eindhoven is one of the country’s leaders. Eindhoven-based architect firm Diederendirrix is involved in many of these projects. “Eindhoven is a modern city, which can accommodate these sorts of changes well.”

“It suits our firm. We don’t want to make icon architecture, but want to be smart architects, in-depth for the building as well as its users. We want to serve the city,” architect and partner Paul Diederen says. “We don’t go wild. We don’t make isolated architecture. It’s the meaning that counts. The telling aspect is important. How can you pass on the story,” his business partner Bert Dirrix adds.

The firm owes a great deal to the redevelopment of the Witte Dame – the former Philips’ light bulb factory – as per Dirrix’ design in the late 1990s. This was shortly before both architects joined forces. Philips initially wanted to demolish the factory after many years of lack of occupancy. However, because public opinion turned against these plans and the council refused to issue a demolition permit, the building was finally repurposed. It was a valuable process, not only because of the technical challenge, but also because of the contacts with council and users and the interaction with the community. “It marked the beginning of more repurposing projects,” Dirrix says.

Tissue

The main thing of all these projects is that transformation is more than the renovation or metamorphosis of a building. Dirrix says: “It’s not only about redeveloping real estate. You add new urban development quality. We think from the tissue of the city.” This is done for example by adding a new public area, as was the case with the Witte Dame, or a city park south of the former Philips Lighting head office.

There is no uniform approach, Diederen explains. “Each building is unique and has its own qualities and its own urban development context. From the structure we analyse which functions match a building. We also often do a feasibility study.”

Read the full article on Cobouw

Nezzt is a project of De Meeuw Oirschot and diederendirrix Eindhoven. A flexible construction system: it can be built, adjusted and taken down in parts.

In Amsterdam, the construction of a first project with Nezzt modules of De Meeuw in Oirschot is being discussed with a building corporation. In fact, commercial director Els van Mierop of De Meeuw and business associate Paul Diederen of diederendirrix would rather start in their home base Eindhoven. Therefore, there are discussions behind the scenes to build the first tower of Nezzt ‘building blocks’ during the Dutch Design Week in October.

“The building project’s innovative and flexible character is a perfect match for Eindhoven. And it can be applied anywhere: as a replacement in a row of houses, as a new housing development project in Meerhoven or as a residential tower on Strijp-S. Because the dwellings’ lay-out, the composition of the parts and the façade – from recycled plastic, stone strips or printed concrete – it can all be adjusted,” Diederen says.

Read the full article in the Eindhovens Dagblad