cc de factorij by ebtca architecten - belgium in collaboration with archiles architecten
construction period 2014 - 2017
photography by Dennis De Smet & Fien Cools
www.ebtca.be - office@ebtca.be
SITE
The former Suchard factory site in Zaventem was transformed into the “The
Factory” cultural site which is intended to lend the town centre a whole new
look.
The Suchard site is a long stretch of terrain; a ‘lost’ piece of land situated
between the backs of the stores on Stationstraat and the houses on
Seliersstraat and the railway on the other side. This site was also subject to a
strict “BPA” (special development plan). The development of this site was a
surefire socio-cultural injection for the town centre. The bordering presence of
the academy with its green surroundings and gorgeous trees broadened and
enhanced this site and will make it the green anchoring point leading to the
town. The entire project developed into one masterplan: ‘culture site Suchard’.
PROGRAMME
In addition to a library, The Factory also features a large theatre with 679 seats
and a multifunctional hall. The main building has a large foyer, a cultural cafe, a
dance and ballet hall and rehearsal spaces for music and recitals, party halls,
catering, exhibition rooms, conference and meeting rooms and artists’
residences on top of the administrative areas. The playhouse itself is equipped
with a full-fledged theatre, theatre storage spaces and studios as well as a
mobile orchestra pit (with elevator) for an orchestra of approx. 30 musicians.
The former Suchard factory site in Zaventem was transformed into the “The
Factory” cultural site which is intended to lend the town centre a whole new
look.
The Suchard site is a long stretch of terrain; a ‘lost’ piece of land situated
between the backs of the stores on Stationstraat and the houses on
Seliersstraat and the railway on the other side. This site was also subject to a
strict “BPA” (special development plan). The development of this site was a
surefire socio-cultural injection for the town centre. The bordering presence of
the academy with its green surroundings and gorgeous trees broadened and
enhanced this site and will make it the green anchoring point leading to the
town. The entire project developed into one masterplan: ‘culture site Suchard’.
PROGRAMME
In addition to a library, The Factory also features a large theatre with 679 seats
and a multifunctional hall. The main building has a large foyer, a cultural cafe, a
dance and ballet hall and rehearsal spaces for music and recitals, party halls,
catering, exhibition rooms, conference and meeting rooms and artists’
residences on top of the administrative areas. The playhouse itself is equipped
with a full-fledged theatre, theatre storage spaces and studios as well as a
mobile orchestra pit (with elevator) for an orchestra of approx. 30 musicians.
DESIGN
Optimal budget management begins with determining the right location and the
first outlines for the design. Taking the vibration measurements of the railway
into account, the theatre was planned to be situated at a minimal distance of 60
metres from the tracks. Unnecessary insulation and foundation costs were
avoided this way. Thanks to the long-stretched terrain, this was made entirely
possible. The zone that was made available due to this is ideal for above-ground
parking with a capacity of 64 cars. The BPA refers to expropriations of the
Heldenplein and a passage through the middle of Stationstraat. This passage
connects to ‘the promenade’ in the surrounding greenery. The presence of the
restaurants located on the Heldenplein perfectly supplements the site as a
whole.
The masterplan offers room for terraces on the promenade so that the current
backsides of the buildings can develop to become new fronts. This will not only
meet the requirements for a maximum building height of 8m but for acoustic
purposes it was decided to make the hall partially underground according to the
‘box in a box’ principle.
Optimal budget management begins with determining the right location and the
first outlines for the design. Taking the vibration measurements of the railway
into account, the theatre was planned to be situated at a minimal distance of 60
metres from the tracks. Unnecessary insulation and foundation costs were
avoided this way. Thanks to the long-stretched terrain, this was made entirely
possible. The zone that was made available due to this is ideal for above-ground
parking with a capacity of 64 cars. The BPA refers to expropriations of the
Heldenplein and a passage through the middle of Stationstraat. This passage
connects to ‘the promenade’ in the surrounding greenery. The presence of the
restaurants located on the Heldenplein perfectly supplements the site as a
whole.
The masterplan offers room for terraces on the promenade so that the current
backsides of the buildings can develop to become new fronts. This will not only
meet the requirements for a maximum building height of 8m but for acoustic
purposes it was decided to make the hall partially underground according to the
‘box in a box’ principle.
SHELL SHAPE
What is truly unique about the design is that half of the concert hall is
underground. This, because of the maximum building height of 8m on the one
hand, and on the other hand, this work method offered advantages in the
acoustic characteristics of the the theatre hall and those living in the
surrounding area will not experience any noise nuisance. In searching for the
most perfect acoustic shape, the design evolved into a shellshaped
hall which also happens to create a sense of security. This distinct shape can
also be perceived in the adjoining areas; the entrance, the reception, the bar,
the cafeteria and the foyer. This lends the entire site a wonderful clarity and
serves its simple accessibility; also for the disabled; as the building mainly
spans two floors.
What is truly unique about the design is that half of the concert hall is
underground. This, because of the maximum building height of 8m on the one
hand, and on the other hand, this work method offered advantages in the
acoustic characteristics of the the theatre hall and those living in the
surrounding area will not experience any noise nuisance. In searching for the
most perfect acoustic shape, the design evolved into a shellshaped
hall which also happens to create a sense of security. This distinct shape can
also be perceived in the adjoining areas; the entrance, the reception, the bar,
the cafeteria and the foyer. This lends the entire site a wonderful clarity and
serves its simple accessibility; also for the disabled; as the building mainly
spans two floors.
This specific shell shape also happens to maximise the use of natural daylight.
The ‘box in a box’ principle allows the hall to utilise the natural daylight so that
no artificial lighting will be required for rehearsals and performances during the
day. The underground foyer is also designed to fill with natural daylight; on the
one hand with northern light that is filtered down via ‘the shell’; ideal for art
exhibits, and on the other hand, via the patio that connects in one glowing
motion to Lambertstraat and the green promenade.
This not only illuminates the foyer with natural air and light, but also beautifully
interacts with its surroundings. The main entrance of the cultural centre, the
library and the Culture Department is situated here and also
benefits from the abundance of natural daylight.
The location of the public library leaves a lot available space for this expansive
glowing movement. At Lambertstraat, the facade increases in volume so that
the building is quite evident and the main entrance serves as a visual point of
attraction. Thanks to the conscious interplay of volumes, throughout the entire
complex, the various departments can function independently without bothering
each other. The zoning of public, semi-public and private terrains is strictly
monitored and these seamlessly connect to one another so that unnecessary
circulation is avoided. Here, social control of the private areas is always taken
into account and optimally ensured with the necessary staffing.
The central location of certain functions permits social use so that there is no
need for “dual” areas. This makes the entire site highly multifunctional and easy
to transform according to need. The centrally located culture cafe is the hub
between the cultural events and the new municipal library that is also part of
the building programme in this cultural centre. The pronounced shape intended
to eliminate any superfluous elements and high energy costs forms the basis of
this design. The approach was further expressed with the corresponding
disciplines of stability, acoustics and highly specific techniques.
An above-ground parking lot for 82 vehicles connects to the cultural centre as
there was sufficient parking capacity available in the immediate surroundings of
the site (Willem Lambertstraat and the library square). The design also takes
into account a later construction phase to build an underground parking garage
in two levels for a total capacity of 143 vehicles and directly connected to the
first floor of the cultural centre, which also houses the
multifunctional party/convention hall.
need for “dual” areas. This makes the entire site highly multifunctional and easy
to transform according to need. The centrally located culture cafe is the hub
between the cultural events and the new municipal library that is also part of
the building programme in this cultural centre. The pronounced shape intended
to eliminate any superfluous elements and high energy costs forms the basis of
this design. The approach was further expressed with the corresponding
disciplines of stability, acoustics and highly specific techniques.
An above-ground parking lot for 82 vehicles connects to the cultural centre as
there was sufficient parking capacity available in the immediate surroundings of
the site (Willem Lambertstraat and the library square). The design also takes
into account a later construction phase to build an underground parking garage
in two levels for a total capacity of 143 vehicles and directly connected to the
first floor of the cultural centre, which also houses the
multifunctional party/convention hall.
FOCUS ON GREEN
The modest location of the public library also seamlessly connects to the
environment. The library leans, as it were, against the remaining facades of the
Suchard factory but it leaves room for the new architectural design with a
striking copper-coloured facade cladding at the same time. The green
environment broadens and enhances the bordering academy as a green
anchoring point heading towards the town centre. Additional techniques have
also been implemented in focusing on ‘green’. Green roofs cover the entire
surface of the theatre, heating and cooling has been supplied via the use of
geothermal energy, rain water is captured in infiltration basins and the roof is
built of eco-bitumen. This material limits CO2 emissions and in doing so, has
the impact of lowering the overall ecological footprint of the roof. The white
reflective mineral also results in an improved air quality throughout the entire
building.
The modest location of the public library also seamlessly connects to the
environment. The library leans, as it were, against the remaining facades of the
Suchard factory but it leaves room for the new architectural design with a
striking copper-coloured facade cladding at the same time. The green
environment broadens and enhances the bordering academy as a green
anchoring point heading towards the town centre. Additional techniques have
also been implemented in focusing on ‘green’. Green roofs cover the entire
surface of the theatre, heating and cooling has been supplied via the use of
geothermal energy, rain water is captured in infiltration basins and the roof is
built of eco-bitumen. This material limits CO2 emissions and in doing so, has
the impact of lowering the overall ecological footprint of the roof. The white
reflective mineral also results in an improved air quality throughout the entire
building.
SHOWCASE OF SUSTAINABILITY THANKS TO THE HYBRID SOLUTION
The underlying philosophy behind the overall design falls within the context of
ustainable construction: to use energy responsibly and develop new ideas that
tilise minimal means to achieve an honest result. The municipality of Zaventem
wanted to set the example for what future construction should look like.
Because the need for heating and cooling for this project was immense,
geothermal energy was the ideal solution. Implementing this was quite a task,
of course, considering the level of energy consumption. Geothermal energy
yields quite few pus points which enable the use of more glass in the design.
What’s more, cooling and heating can occur without all those expensive
machines, and this more than compensates the use of glass. Even though a
combination of concrete core activation gives the best results, it was decided
not to do this. This led to some acoustic problems. That is why we opted for
other low temperature delivery systems in the form of lowered climate ceilings
and floor heating/ cooling. Quick response radiators and convectors hereby
absorb the variable peak loads. Dynamic simulations of the subsurface and the
design offered guarantees in terms of the capacity that could be retrieved from
the ground and he minimum/maximum delivery temperatures throughout the
different seasons. A hybrid system of geothermal energy and condensed gas
boilers, with short payback period of only thirteen years, was therefore the
ideal solution. Considering the limited drilling depth allowed, relatively many
probes were installed: 107 in total. The probes were connected in groups of four
and onnected to a collector, which thereby could be limited in size. A heating
pump was connected to the geothermal energy system. This can provide 60% of
the heating need. The remaining amount can be compensated for with gasfired
condensation boilers.
The underlying philosophy behind the overall design falls within the context of
ustainable construction: to use energy responsibly and develop new ideas that
tilise minimal means to achieve an honest result. The municipality of Zaventem
wanted to set the example for what future construction should look like.
Because the need for heating and cooling for this project was immense,
geothermal energy was the ideal solution. Implementing this was quite a task,
of course, considering the level of energy consumption. Geothermal energy
yields quite few pus points which enable the use of more glass in the design.
What’s more, cooling and heating can occur without all those expensive
machines, and this more than compensates the use of glass. Even though a
combination of concrete core activation gives the best results, it was decided
not to do this. This led to some acoustic problems. That is why we opted for
other low temperature delivery systems in the form of lowered climate ceilings
and floor heating/ cooling. Quick response radiators and convectors hereby
absorb the variable peak loads. Dynamic simulations of the subsurface and the
design offered guarantees in terms of the capacity that could be retrieved from
the ground and he minimum/maximum delivery temperatures throughout the
different seasons. A hybrid system of geothermal energy and condensed gas
boilers, with short payback period of only thirteen years, was therefore the
ideal solution. Considering the limited drilling depth allowed, relatively many
probes were installed: 107 in total. The probes were connected in groups of four
and onnected to a collector, which thereby could be limited in size. A heating
pump was connected to the geothermal energy system. This can provide 60% of
the heating need. The remaining amount can be compensated for with gasfired
condensation boilers.
