KAAN architecten has completed CUBE, a new education and self study center at tilburg university in the netherlands. 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. the compact structure blends into its surrounding landscape and into the larger architectural ensemble of the dutch educational campus.

KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university designboom
photos by simone bossi, and sebastian van damme

 

KAAN architecten‘s design approach takes into account not only current users, but also future generations and development of the university, creating an open, elegant and robust education and self study center. CUBE is anchored to the landscape by paved pathways that guide users to its entrances on the south-side corners, and into its secluded interior, which feels like an opening in the woods. the heart of the building includes a spacious indoor study plaza, flanked by a transparent auditorium and two patios.

KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university designboom

 

the ground floor of CUBE is welcoming and feels like an inviting public space thanks to the high ceilings and abundant daylight. its layout includes open study and circulation spaces, lounges, and a catering area, as well as a white rounded spiral staircase that gives the building a sense of serenity.

KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university

 

 

surrounded by glass walls, the auditorium adds to the building’s dynamic ensemble. 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. with the exception of the main spiral staircase, all stairs and canopies are dark in color, forming a common thread throughout the building, while all the public areas have concrete floors and light grey expanded metal ceilings.

KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university designboom KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university

KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university

KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university KAAN architecten completes CUBE, a glass and concrete study center for tilburg university

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: CUBE

main use: education and self study center

location: campus tilburg university, tilburg (netherlands)

architect: 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

client: tilburg university

program: study square, auditorium, lecture rooms, tutorial rooms, meeting rooms, cafeteria, exam rooms, lounge area, virtual reality laboratory

GFA: 11.000 sqm

main contractor: vorm bouw, papendrecht

project management: vorm ontwikkeling, papendrecht

advisor construction: pieters bouwtechniek, delft

advisor technical installations: j. van toorenburg installatieadviseur, the hague

water installations: a. de jong installatietechniek, schiedam

electrical installations: steegman elektrotechniek, the hague

fire control, acoustics: buro bouwfysica, capelle aan den ijssel

sustainability: ABT, velp

quality management: OPPS, utrecht

landscape: mtd landschapsarchitecten, ’s-hertogenbosch