UNStudio: waalse krook

‘waalse krook’ by UNStudio in gent, belgium all images courtesy UNStudio render by mir

amsterdam-based firm UNStudio has sent in images of their competition entry for the urban library of the future and center for new media in gent, belgium. located adjacent to the canal, ‘waalse krook’ is a multi-storey facility that aims to strengthen the character of the site by providing an extension of the urban context into its design.

view by the canal

with a fluid form that varies according to the orientation, the layered volume is lifted above ground level in order to accommodate new public spaces around the foot of the library. the verticality also provides expansive sight lines from the interior to the rest of gent. the overall impact of the design on the urban profile is kept minimal with a low construction volume.

interior view of atrium

the layout features an internal void that directs the spatial orientation of the building. in addition to serving as an open space for the collective energy and activity of the library, the void functions as a link between the various functional clusters in the design as well as a bridge between the city and the municipal library.

programmatic diagram

the three libraries

exploded axo and programs

project info:

building surface: 19,498.6 m2 status: competition entry design team: ben van berkel, caroline bos, gerard loozekoot with jacques van wijk, wesley lanckriet and jordan trachtenberg, ren yee, wendy van der knijff, bartek winnicki, aurelie krotoff, patrik noome, marcin koltunski, joerg lonkwitz, miguel noe, imola berczi, elena scripellity

structure: ABT, antwerp and netherlands installations: ABT, netherlands fire: ABT, antwerp and netherlands costs: ABT, antwerp and netherlands local architect: crepain binst architecture, antwerp