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De Uithof, showcase of modern architecture
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 © Ector
Hoogstad |
| Address |
Padualaan 97
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| Architect |
Ector
Hoogstad Architects, Rotterdam
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| Year |
2005-2007
first pile: Dec. 6, 2005
highest point reached: Nov. 27, 2006
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| Use |
Faculty of Education. The faculty
consists of three sections each with its own sphere: the
Archimedes teachers training college, the Theo Thijssen Academy
and the Seminary for Remedial Education.
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| Awards |
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| Relevant websites |
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| Opened |
Jan. 2008
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| Sq. metrage |
| 17.500 m2 |
| Cost |
| € |
| Contractors |
J.P. van Eesteren BV, Barendrecht
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| Landscape designer |
| Copier Advies, Utrecht. |
| General information |
The building forms
the most western closure of the kasbah strip
(lot D13). This is one of the most prominent locations of
'De Uithof' which enables the building to face the city.
Arriving from the city the building presents itself as the
impressive ending to the green 'vestibule' of 'De Uithof'.
The most striking characteristic of the design is the wall
panelling. Colourful aluminium strips are attached horizontally
to the western façade. According to the architect:
'The façade is an expression of the occupants and their
diverse activities, a metaphor for the HU's multifaceted
community.'
The urban committee on architectural quality and monuments
judged positively. On Aug. 29, 2006, it took a favourable
position regarding the colour scheme and praised the idea
that the number of floors could not be read from the façade.
 © Ector
Hoogstad
The building is interconnected to the adjacent FCJ
Building which necessitates different floor levels in
the horizontally and the vertically orientated sub-parts
of the building as is illustrated above. Several historical
landscape elements, such as a watercourse and cycle-paths
and footpaths had to be retained. For this reason part of
the building is elevated. The resulting 'underworld' is
used to create a recreational area, entrance to the bicycle
storage and several utilitarian functions. The artificial
landscape meets the original meadow scenery.
The building is built on 350 piles, contains 5,500 m3 of
concrete and 2,800 m2 of glass.
Despite this rather impressive volume, the concrete floors are relatively light-weight.
They are constructed using the AirDeck principle of Marmorith.
This monolithic floor system with bidirectional loadbearing
capability is based on a formwork panel fitted with an array
of robot-placed polypropylene airboxes, which are
weight-saving hollow elements. |
| The name of the building |
| FE = Faculty of Education of the 'Hogeschool
Utrecht'. |
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| These digitalia are best
viewed in Century Gothic. |
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