Page 59 - Tussen binnenstad en spoor - Leuven 2003

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A complex that made a great impression, is the
“Espace Christian Dotremont” at the Nivelles –
North industrial estate (1998-2002) 6. The location
is precisely the opposite of the chosen option, an
industrial estate along a motorway, accessible
only by car. These office complexes, often
described as “business parks,” are speculative
operations with few architectonic or town plan-
ning qualities. Most often they are showy, garish
buildings with very glistening facades and a
stylish, post-modern form show. One of the most
important starting points for Samyn was to create
a qualitative environment, where the problem of
parking possibilities was not avoided. Instead of
hard, cheerless underground parking places, or of
spreading the car park round the buildings, it was
opted to make room for the car under the build-
ings and outdoors. The composition of the whole
has the shape of a cluster and the character of a
small settlement. The concept differs fundamen-
tally from “business parks” whereby autonomous,
often identical construction volumes are plumped
down surrounded with a bit of greenery and a
paved surface as a parking area. The choice for a
low building and the architectonic effect were not
simply the result of integration with the land-
scape. The concept has structural, maintenance
and energy-management advantages too. The
regulation considers two floors as one whole,
whereby the complexity is reduced substantially. In
this way, the wooden frames can be given glazing
over the entire height. This bolsters the visual rela-
tion between the interior and the green surround-
ings. The building is designed in extremely fine
detail, which gives it an unexpected elegance. The
concept of durability is integrated at various levels
in the design. This project makes it crystal clear
that Samyn’s ambition lies in developing intelligent
structures by making optimal use of all precondi-
tions, even if at first glance, these are taken as fac-
tors that have a negative effect on the creation of
quality architecture.

© SAMYN AND PARTNERS (Pascal MONNIEZ & Frédéric CLESSE)