Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Faculty of Engineering Science Architecture
Architectural Design Studio
Maggie’s Centre Leuven
Student: Ambrus Ă kos
Architectural design Studio
Maggie’s Centre, Leuven: Changing roles Student: Ambrus Ákos
Topaz Centre Visit Students: Anca-Maria Muresan, Michal Kontsek, Ambrus Akos In the beginning of the project, we took a visit in Brussels to the
Topaz Daily Centre, which takes care of people suffering different diseases. We also met the chief nurse, Freddy, he takes care of the patients. Freddy told us, that the Centre itself is open from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m., and they have a mini bus which carries people to the Centre. People inside the Centre can do different activities like, sculpture, painting, photography, gardening etc. Spaces inside the building are clearly not built with this type of Centre in mind. There are a lot of spaces which are to much separated, it has a general reception, a lot of corridors. It has a big kitchen, computer room, therapy space, there is a special bath for immobilized people, a big living room and a nice teras which is open to the garden. Freddy told us, that the garden is the “favorite” place when there is a good weather, here they do different activities, they have garden and he is planing to keep chicken also. The Topaz Centre all in all si really similar to what Maggie’s offer, but with the lack of an architectural environment.
Maggie’s Leuven:
After all these experiences, it was clear that the Centre has to be first of all a place where people can feel at home, it should be accessible for everyone, it has to offer spaces with special characters and to become a place where patients will want to come back. The given site offers a lot of possibilities, the building itself should use as much of these opportunities as possible, to become a place of everyday activities, to offer social backgrounds and in the same time intimity for different situations. The final place of the building, is close to the main parking as it offers grate accessibility without supplementing parking spaces, this results in a more natural area. It has flat parts and also steep slopes, the surrounding vegetations keep the general view natural and allows enough light to be present without disturbing the sensitive people inside the building. The existing pathways networks offer really nice spaces tot ake a walk, also the character of the site allows to cross the pathways with the building, which can lead to a positive hierarchy between patients and casual peoples passing by. All of these were kept in mind while designing the Centre.
Key features
Home-alike
Accessibility
Concept:Conversion
Home
1.
Light/Shadow
Hierarchy
of the idea of home into institution
Rectange plan Regular shaped roof
Controlled View
Adjusting the volume to the pathways and to the forest
Social/Intim Spaces
Note that the textures around the cuts are different
Nature inside
Flexibility
Creating the atrium and accentuating the entrance Analysis & Concept
Strengths: • accessibility • nice view • surrounded by forest • variety of relief • profit of existing trees • good lighting • isolated from the surroundings • easy access into the forest Weaknesses: • kindergarten near by • tight spaces between the trees Opportunities: • the steepens of the terrain can be used to make intersections between building and existing pathways • the existing parking lot makes possible to miss including the parkings ro rhe building resulting in a more natural welcome feeling • the character of the terrain allows to have access without ramps or elevators, and to create unique level differences • the closeness of the forest and open spaces makes possible to have part of the building inside the forest, part of it outside, resulting in different character spaces Threats • closeness of the kindergarten, and public roads can cause disturbance issues • covered light from the south by the forest
Site plan sc. 1:500 And analysis
Floor plan sc. 1:100
Atrium plan sc. 1:100
Transversal section sc. 1:100
Longitudinal Floor plan sc. section 1:500 sc. 1:100
Vest elevation sc. 1:100
North elevation sc. 1:100
East elevation sc. 1:100
South elevation sc. 1:100
Passage perspective
Pathway Perspective
Entrance perspective
Kitchen
Entrance view
Passage
Therapy room(s)
Emotioanl space | Atrium
Materials used:
Rusted metal plate with perforations This material is used as the main volume’s cover, allowing light, and plants to grow between the two layers
Concrte blocks Concrete block are used for structural walls, in this case it’s appearance highlights the shifted areas of the initial shape.
Poured concrete It’s texture is given by the wood used for pouring, gives the rigid material the softness of the wood, as ceiling, makes border between nature-inside.
Black wood Together with the poured concrete makes artistic connection between nature and artificial. It’s color is made by special treatments.
Regular parquet Casual parquet has a role of making spaces to feel just like home. Intended “un-special”, combined with real living grass still makes the effect.