Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
The final piece of the large-scale Park 20|20 plan development is currently rising in Hoofddorp. The campus is the final piece of the puzzle and includes five office buildings designed by MVSA as a cohesive ensemble, but each with its own identity. The inspiration for this particular concept lies in the Chinese doctrine of Feng Shui and the five natural elements: water, wood, earth, metal and fire. Building Water is now under construction.
“Each building is linked to one of the five elements, which we translate into use of materials, color and appearance,” begins Mark Ohm, project coordinator at MSVA Architects. “For example, Building Water is characterized by its white and silver-gray reflective façade panels that capture light the way water does. On the square side, this building will have a stepped terrace that refers to a waterfall. The other buildings will have a fiery red or earthy hue, a warm wood color or a more metallic look to match their element.”
Despite these differences, Ohm says the buildings form a clear unity. “This is achieved through strong horizontal lines in all the facades,” he says. “These horizontal lines visually connect the volumes and reinforce the sense of movement and cohesion. On the south and west facades of Building Water, the floor edges protrude like horizontal fins, creating canopies. These projecting sections not only provide sun protection, but are also used to integrate PV panels. Even the glass of the atrium roof integrates solar panels. Thus, together with the main roof and the projecting parts, almost all possible surfaces have been utilized to generate renewable energy.”
Sustainability therefore plays a central role in the development. For the entire area, efforts are being made to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification. “Installations are solved indoors.
For example, there are no air handling units on the roof, partly because of height restrictions related to the proximity to Schiphol Airport,” Ohm explains. “Building Water has five floors, with the first floor slightly elevated (+0.5 meters) and thus serving as a representative showroom for the user. Below is a semi-underground parking garage that will be realized in phases under all five buildings. The park itself is raised slightly above ground level and forms one large pedestrian zone.”
The campus is positioned so that the green middle zone flows into a plaza enclosed by the five buildings. “This square forms the heart zone of the area: a meeting place with terraces and entrances on this side,” Ohm said. “At Building Water, terraces with greenery are present on the square side on all floors, giving users on each level direct contact with the park landscape and views of the square. The buildings were further designed with demountable construction in mind. For example, the main load-bearing structure consists of steel with channel plates without a compression layer, while precast concrete cores provide stability.”
Currently, Building Water is under construction. Building Fire is ready for the next phase (DO), while the other three buildings are still in the design phase. MVSA remains involved in the aesthetic management to ensure the quality and consistency of this special campus concept.
