the added place to play / relax / think / create
The TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) is a warehouse complex near the canal of Brussels, located next to the Thurn & Taxis site. It covers 160.000 m² of storage space and is connected to the waterway through a platform in the Vergrotedok. The building has a distinctive facade due to the refined window pattern. This is not the only thing that makes the building remarkable. Right in front of the building a large, concrete viaduct, connects the street level with the second level. It creates a permanent impression on the street. Through the addition of the viaduct, two different spaces are experienced: one below the viaduct and one above. Although both levels are used very often, they don’t offer a versatility of functions. Only one particular function can take place: logistics. While the usage of the bike and other carbon-neutral transportation methods should be stimulated, cars and trucks still gain all attention here. Our starting point is to regain the public and human scale. For this, we put bike usage to the foreground. To achieve this we opt to change the function of the viaduct. Instead of trucks going up and down, it will be cyclists and pedestrians who will benefit from the viaduct. With a newly created access on the west side of the viaduct, consisting of a big open staircase and two elevators, both pedestrians, cyclists and goods can easily go up. To preserve a part of the logistical function, level 0 and 1 stay untouched. Level 2 and 3 will transform into a new place within the existing building. EXTRA: the added place to play, relax, think, create. Our second fundamental idea is to strive for a building where f lexibility, multifunctionality and reuse form the central focus points. By doing as much as possible on-site and using materials of the existing building we prevent unnecessary transport and thus emissions. On-site, two building materials are manufactured, which are easily applicable throughout the whole building. The first one is a wallpanel made of wooden plates and recycled denim insulation. The second one is tiles made of demolition materials of the viaduct entrance and brick interior walls. To create an efficient organisation on our construction site we work in five different phases. Hereby the finished parts can already fulfil their role as public space while the rest of the building is still under construction. This makes the building dynamic and forethoughtful.
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