1953년에서 1972년까지 석탄이나 가스를 이용하여 전력을 공급하는 발전소 지역의 랜드마크였던 상징적 건물은 이제 톡특한 업무 공간과 협업에 중점을 둔 개방형 생태계로 탈바꿈 되었다.
한마디로, Atelier van Berlo는 편안하면서도 넓고, 신선하며 젋은 작업환경이다.
어쩌면 사무용으로 사용하기엔 적합하지 않은 크기와 부피로 무거운 느낌의 산업단지를 변형시켰다. 이곳은 각기 다른 회사가 만나 혁신을 자극하는 창의력의 중심지로써 재탄생하였다.
atelier van berlo has transformed a pure, brute, raw and heavy industrial complex in eindhoven — in size and volume completely unsuitable for office use — into a comfortable, breathing, spacious, fresh and young work environment. completed in collaboration with eugelink architectuur and de bever architecten, ‘the innovation powerhouse’ is an ecosystem for the innovative industries. a center of creativity, a hyper-modern, multi-tenant building where different companies meet, inspire and stimulate innovation.
situated on strijp-t, the out of use power plant is an iconic building, a landmark of eindhoven and built in four stages, from 1953 till 1972, the power plant used to provide philips factories with power through coal, gas and later oil. design-driven innovation agency van berlo initiated the transformation, while in search for their own new headquarters. they envisioned a unique working space, an open ecosystem focused on collaboration, something more than just new offices. it would be a home for different innovative companies, universities, partners, clients, and visitors to work together and create the innovations that shape the future.
the two main points of departure for the design were to maintain the building’s innate architectural qualities and to incorporate this vision of open innovation. to create this vibrant center, the architects created a clear-cut in the building, a straight line through the heart spanning, among others, the original 5-meter wide central backbone, where the cole chutes still hang at 28-meter hight. next to this central backbone, the roof is has a full-length skylight, bringing light into the otherwise dark center of the building and revealing the magnitude of the old heavy concrete structure. in addition, this skylight gives a peek at the façade, allowing all who see it experience the sheer height of the midpoint.
from designboom