CONCEPT

This chapter and the following documents have the intention to give a look at the concept of the reuse process and the allocation of the different spaces of the building in relation to its environment. They represent the whole aim of the design for the reuse of the Kennedy ensemble.

The faculty takes place in the trapezoidal shape building following the opportunity to have wide rooms for the ateliers. On the ground floor level, the big entrance hall of the faculty becomes a mix used space, flexible following the needs, and can house some exhibitions of the student works but some external ones as well, lectures or events. On the two upper floors, the large spaces are dedicated to the classrooms, ateliers and are free to use, flexible depending on the classes On the roof, a minimalist volume is added for the personal workspace for each student.

The bridge building becomes a foyer where students, teachers and staff members can gather for lunch or any time of the day. It is a space handled by the students and is open any time. This space can be used for late events or even students’ parties thanks to its privileged place and its own entrance.

The rotunda volume is dedicated to the public or semi-public functions : the associations, the Bouwmeester, an auditorium and the library. The auditorium can be used by the faculty but also by the other actors of the ensemble for any events or conference. The library is a specialised collection of architectural, urbanism, design publications and is open to the students of the faculty but also to the public. All the functions of the ensemble are interconnected to create a positive emulation between them due to the possible exchanges.

The project aims at respecting, preserving and highlight the concrete structure that participate at the soul of the building. To reach a contrasting atmosphere but also an elegant design to the ensemble of operations on the building, all the furniture and partitions are made out of glass, galvanised steel or concrete.

The urban space is also designed to give more space to the pedestrians while also respecting the modernist character of the neighbourhood. An esplanade is created in front of the entrance hall where students can gather but also giving the opportunity to have an outdoor space for some events. On the Place des Carmes, the roundabout is removed to give more room for the connection between the square, the rue St Paul coming from the Place de la Cathedrale and the new esplanade.