Circular process construction. New Aquafin head office by B-architecten

Description of project by B-architecten

Key elements are firstly the enlargement of the central building to assemble all campus-users in one durable working environment, focusing on interaction and contact, secondly the introduction of a small pavilion on the ecologically fragile green site of the former Delta building and thirdly the demolition of one building to organise a green and drive-through parking infrastructure (for cars and bicycles).

Since all the actions are embedded in one biodiverse and green environment several strategies are combined: a long term vision on the usage of space and mobility, a need for durability, the smart use of energy, the new working attitude and a new identity for Aquafin.

The design is all about uniting. It unites the site with the environment (the green corridor), it unites the three subareas (the public circulation-axe sews everything neatly together), it unites Aquafin and its mission towards a broader public dimension (a.o. by implementing the Bar d’Office as a co-working space or the opening of the pavilion for external activities…) it unites the workers by putting them all under one roof (one compact and lively campus as a great place to work).

A uniting design that makes all three subareas refer to one another is necessary to confirm the preconceived ambition of a new identity and spacial cohesion and to stimulate the interaction between the different users.

Since the mindset is durability and biodiversity this project offers a unique opportunity to create special and diversified green areas. The starting point is the concept of substituting habitats. Providing a welcoming area for insects, birds and mammals, close to the natural referential environment, increases the ecological value and biological diversity.

The challenge lies in coupling these assets to the site’s qualitative development in such a way that the whole will contribute to a better urban development on a supra local level.

Impact on employees

In each design decision, the architects took into account the impact on the employees. The central building was completely organised in greenery, the car parks were bundled and the new building will have personalised workspaces according to different types of work and atmosphere. As a result, the head office becomes a flexible meeting place.

Reuse

The building will always follow the principles of circularity. For example, the blue stone floor finish from the existing building will be reused in the refectory pavilion, just like the acoustic baffles from the existing landscape offices. A number of porcelain washbasins, toilet bowls, urinals and accompanying partition walls will also be given a second life in the new office.

In addition to the reuse of materials from the existing building, an air group is brought to Aartselaar from another location. The concrete structure of the original building will therefore not be demolished, but renovated instead. Because the existing building was completely dismantled down to the concrete structure, the architects were able to retain the staircase and sanitary cores from the existing situation in the new design.

From this concrete structure, they provide new insulation and facade finishing. B-architecten is working with sustainable wooden prefab elements in which, among other things, the insulation is already incorporated. These will be finished with wooden boards and the exterior joinery will also be made entirely out of wood, just like a large part of the extensions: the new refectory pavilion will consist entirely of a wood structure in CLT, with another wooden facade finish. The connection between the new head office and the refectory pavilion will be made out of wood as well.

Cold and heat

In the office building, riothermal energy will be applied. This means that the heat and cold from the street sewers will be used to heat and cool the building. The suspended climate ceiling consists of small slats containing tubes that provide cooling and heating. Simply put, you can compare it with underfloor heating, but in the suspended ceiling. This is a circular principle because, on the one hand, it can be used in an existing building and, on the other, it allows for future adaptations.

To prevent overheating, all small spaces such as concentration workplaces and smaller meeting rooms were organised around the existing atrium from the very first sketch. The larger landscape offices are located against the outer facade.