NL architects: siemens hengelo

‘siemens hengelo’ by NL architects, hengelo, the netherlands image © bart van hoek all images courtesy of NL architects

‘siemens hengelo’ by amsterdam-based firm NL architects is now complete in the hart van zuid district of hengelo in the netherlands. bordering a square and opposing the main train station, the office building is situated at the head of a strip of industrial structures. contextually defined by the 20th century production, the area encompassing the site is being converted into a lively sector of mixed uses including work and comfortable living. education and leisure will be integrated into the ongoing high-tech industry. the exterior responds to the zoning document’s prescribed aesthetic: ‘the shape should be derived from the industrial heritage: unambiguous, sturdy, stern and uncompromising. through these properties the building will acquire the character of a sign.’ this statement has been interpreted and implemented into the project by inverting the typical form of the horizontal shed and saw-tooth roof.

the zigzagged facade forms rows of inclined windows, positioned to reflect the pedestrians, cars, trains and buildings to onlookers viewing from below. framing the glazing, protruding elements act as a visor to reduce glare and reflections to those working inside. similar to traffic control towers, the employees will enjoy optimized outward views.

see designboom’s coverage of this project during the schematic phase.

view from street image © marcel ven der burg

main facade image © marcel ven der burg

image © marcel ven der burg

glazing reflects the encompassing district image © marcel ven der burg

typical saw-toothed roofline is turned on its side into a facade of windows image © bart van hoek

framing the glazing, protruding elements act as a visor to reduce glare inside image © marcel ven der burg

image © marcel ven der burg

dynamic activity is reflected within the glass image © marcel ven der burg

people, cars, buses, trains and buildings are visible to onlookers from below image © marcel ven der burg

framing the glazing, protruding elements act as a visor to reduce glare inside image © marcel ven der burg

offices overlook the train station and square image © marcel ven der burg

image © marcel ven der burg

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1-3

floor plan / level 4-10

section

elevation

(left) flat window pane, building user needs visor (right) angled window pane, building user does not need visor

sun diagram (left) flat window pane, building user needs sunglasses (right) angled window pane, building user does not need sunglasses

wall section diagram

diagram of reflected views

project phasing diagram

conceptual building diagram

air traffic control tower images

project info:

competition: 1st prize NL architects: pieter bannenberg, walter van dijk, kamiel klaasse
client: van wijnen projectontwikkeling oost bv, mab development user: siemens industrial turbo machinery bv team: bobby de graaf, gen yamamoto, gerbrand van oostveen, yusuke iwata, joanna janota jury: ton schaap, frits van dongen, hubert-jan henket, pieter van wesemael, dirk baalman, evert-jan krouwel, sylvia karres competitors: claus en kaan, de zwarte hond