Westraven Office Complex, Utrecht, Utrecht
From Archiplanet
| Westraven Office Complex | |
| Designer | Architectenbureau cepezed b.v., Delft, Netherlands |
| Location | Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Date | 2005 to 2007 |
| Building Type | Office |
| Climate | Mild Temperate |
| Context | Suburban |
| Architectural Style | Modern |
| Builder | Westraven Bouwcombinatie |
| Street Address | Griffioenlaan 2 |
| Notes |
Contents |
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[edit] Discussion
Westraven is a complex and large-scale combination of existing buildings and new construction for various sections of the Dutch Department of Public Works and the Dutch Ministry of Welfare, Health and Cultural Affairs, situated in the Westraven area between the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal and the junction of the A2 and A12 motorways at Utrecht. The programme covers more than 53,000 m² and consists of office space, conference facilities, a national meeting centre, a communications centre, and the Future Center for the Department of Public Works. More than 2000 people will be employed in Westraven once it has been completed.
The existing high-rise construction will be completely renovated and reorganized. An elongated four-storey building will rise around the foot of the building. Vides in the floors and façades made entirely of glass will give a strong impulse to the spatial experience of the high-rise block, which is rather limited in the original architecture. Vides, atriums, conservatories, and inner gardens furnish the transparent new construction with an unprecedented spatial quality, and will also be important for the orientation of the staff and visitors. The various functions of high-rise and low-rise construction are combined at the foot of the tower in spectacular, large, open spaces that invite both a rendezvous and casual encounters. Many of the working areas have been designed as flexible workstations, so that it is possible to work at various places in the building.
Much attention has been devoted to realizing perfect equilibrium between low energy consumption and an optimum working climate. For this purpose, an ingenious climate concept has been developed which makes use of thermically active floors, among other methods. The conservatories also work as climate buffers and the artificial lighting adjusts itself automatically to the colour and intensity of the incidence of daylight.
Furthermore, a revolutionary feature is the innovative second-skin façade of open-weave, teflon-coated glass fibre that offers all-round protection against the wind and makes it possible to work with open windows, even on the top floors. As a result, the staff enjoy great freedom in regulating their own interior climate, which is quite a luxury for high-rise construction.
