CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
26/09/2018.
[Tilburg] Netherlands
metalocus, ANDREA GONZÁLEZ
metalocus, ANDREA GONZÁLEZ
KAAN Architecten has designed “CUBE”, the new Education and Self Study Center at Tilburg University (Netherlands).
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Simone Bossi
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
Site plan. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Diagrams. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Diagrams, shaping the volume. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Process. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Concepts. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Public-interior. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Ground floor plan. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
First floor plan. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Second level plan. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
East elevation. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
South elevation. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
North elevation. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
West elevation. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Section AA. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Section BB. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Section CC. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Detail, south façade. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Detail, south façade. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Detail, east façade. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
Detail, east façade. CUBE. Education and Self Study Center, by KAAN Architecten
KAAN Architecten designs CUBE, a discreet yet distinguished building for Tilburg University.
This compact and ostensibly low structure blends into its surrounding green landscape and into the larger architectural ensemble of the Dutch educational campus, which includes the quintessential Cobbenhagen building of the Catholic College of Economics, constructed back in the Sixties.
This compact and ostensibly low structure blends into its surrounding green landscape and into the larger architectural ensemble of the Dutch educational campus, which includes the quintessential Cobbenhagen building of the Catholic College of Economics, constructed back in the Sixties.
Description of project by KAAN Architecten
Located in the north-west corner of the campus, which is characterized by an orthogonal plan, the 11.000 square-meter building serves all faculties and it is in constant use by some 2.200 students and lecturers that cross its spaces every day. CUBE is anchored to the landscape by paved pathways that guide users to its entrances on the south-side corners. It is a secluded space for study that feels like an opening in the woods.
More than any other building in the campus, the new Education and Self Study Center is a building for students: open and spacious, elegant and robust. KAAN Architecten’s design choices take into account not only current users, but also future generations and development of the university.
In order to secure a free-flowing, open building and to avoid any sense of crowding, the heart of CUBE is a spacious indoor study plaza flanked by a transparent auditorium and two patios. On all sides, the building features a homogenous layout that leaves no closed-off facades, but exudes complete equality on all sides. The transition from façade to green enclosure is practically seamless.
The ground floor is welcoming and feels like an inviting public space thanks to the high ceilings and abundant daylight flowing deep into CUBE. It constitutes one continuous realm dotted with open study and circulation spaces, lounges, and a catering area. Here, a white rounded graceful spiral staircase gives the building a sense of serenity.
The auditorium surrounded by glass walls is part of this dynamic ensemble. Moreover, alongside the green patios, independent study spaces with lower ceilings are recessed, dedicated to concentrated work. On both floors, all fully-equipped lecture rooms run alongside the west, north and east facades highlighting the strong orthogonal orientation of CUBE.
Spread symmetrically over the plan, four open staircases, including the main one, connect the indoor plaza to the first floor. With the exception of the main spiral staircase, all stairs and canopies are dark in colour, forming a common thread throughout the building, while all the public areas have power floated concrete floors and light grey expanded metal ceilings.
Long wooden study tables, comfortable benches and armchairs complete the furnishing.
The auditorium has a warm, neutral interior. Floors, walls and ceiling are all "ton sur ton" in welcoming shades of grey which create a unified spatial experience, suitable for the diverse typology of events it houses.
Now open to the students, the vital and frenetic everyday life of CUBE enhances KAAN Architecten’s discreet expression of an architectural concord achieved with a clear and open design process that authentically reflects the building’s identity.
The Education and Self Study Center in Tilburg is the latest project dedicated to higher education and research to be completed this year by the Dutch firm. This state-of-the-art approach to public buildings, with a pronounced attitude towards spaces for concentration and lively sharing of ideas, is also intrinsic to the firm’s recent UAM Campuses in Piracicaba and Sao José dos Campos in Brazil, the Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay in France, as well as in the award-winning Education Center Erasmus MC in Rotterdam.
More information
Architects
Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen, Dikkie Scipio
Project team
Allard Assies, Dennis Bruijn, Timo Cardol, Sebastian van Damme, Michael Geensen, Alejandro Gonzáles Pérez, Marlon Jonkers, Rense Kerkvliet, Martina Margini, Kevin Park, Roland Reemaa, Maria Stamati, Yiannis Tsoskounoglou, Noëmi Vos, Yang Zhang
Collaborators
Project management.- VORM Ontwikkeling, Papendrecht (Netherlands). Advisor construction.- Pieters Bouwtechniek, Delft (Netherlands). Advisor technical installations.- J. van Toorenburg Installatieadviseur, The Hague (Netherlands). Water installations.- A. de Jong Installatietechniek, Schiedam (Netherlands). Electrical installations.- Steegman Elektrotechniek, The Hague (Netherlands). Fire control, acoustics.- Buro Bouwfysica, Capelle aan den IJssel (Netherlands). Sustainability.- ABT, Velp (Netherlands). Quality management.- OPPS, Utrecht (Netherlands).
Landscape architect
MTD Landschapsarchitecten, ’s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands)
Client
Tilburg University
Main contractor
VORM Bouw, Papendrecht (Netherlands)
Area
GFA.- 11,000 sqm
Dates
Design phase.- January 2016 – October 2016
Construction phase.- December 2016 - April 2018
Venue
Campus Tilburg University, Tilburg (Netherlands)
Kees Kaan. KAAN Architecten
KAAN Architecten is a Rotterdam based architectural firm operating in a global context and merging practical and academic expertise within the fields of architecture, urbanism and research on the built environment. The studio, led by Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen and Dikkie Scipio, consists of an international team of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, engineers and graphic designers. KAAN Architecten believes in cross-pollination between projects and disciplines as an essential tool to fostering a critical debate within the studio.
Since the launch of the firm, KAAN Architecten has handled and supervised a wide range of projects, actively working with the private and the public sector, with project teams that become increasingly multidisciplinary and dynamic. KAAN Architecten maintains a culture of constant evolution, which is essential in a profession that changes at a rapid pace. KAAN Architecten seeks to uphold long-term relationships with its clients, consultants and partners.
KAAN Architecten’s projects transcend the traditional notion of scale and typology, ranging from furniture and interiors to urban development and from retail and offices to museums and buildings for health and education.
Selection of completed projects:
2017, B30 – Bezuidenhoutseweg 30, The Hague (NL)!
2016, De Bank – new KAAN Architecten’s office, Rotterdam (NL)
2016, Supreme Court of the Netherlands, The Hague (NL)!
2015, Provinciehuis of North-Brabant, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NL)
2013, Dreamhouse, Rotterdam (NL)!
2013, Education Center Erasmus MC, Rotterdam (NL)!
2010, District Water Board Brabantse Delta, Breda (NL)
!2008, Crematorium Heimolen, Sint Niklaas (BE)!
2004, Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Hague
KAAN Architecten ©Casper Rila
