Architect in the spotlight: ARCHILES ARCHITECTEN
FACING BRICKS EMPHASIZE THE SOLIDITY OF THE NEW SCHERPENHEUVEL-ZICHEM ACADEMY
Facing bricks greatly determine the looks of a building. Archiles architects are well aware of this too. The architects firm in Geel, Belgium covered the facade of the new Academy for Sound and Music in Scherpenheuvel-Zichem with Veneto, a facing brick from Nelissen Bricks. "This dark, rugged brick emphasises the solidity of the building", says architect Luk Segers.
Archiles architects designed the new building of the extra-curricular child-care (BKO) and the Academy for Sound and Music for Scherpenheuvel-Zichem. The complex was built on the site of the old swimming pool and the new cultural centre Den Egger. The BKO can accommodate a hundred children on the ground floor. "The combination of open and enclosed surfaces ensures an interesting interaction between the interior and external area of the BKO", says Luk Segers, business manager of Archiles architects. "The central service core runs through the building like a strong and visible shaft and provides the most important separation between the age groups. The somewhat massive volume of the academy is supported by the underlying BKO. The first floor includes, among others, classrooms, an auditorium, a lobby and an outdoor terrace. We have broken the predominantly enclosed character of this volume by using large vertical windows which gives a certain rhythm to the long facades." The building covers a total surface of 18.300 sq ft.
Archiles architects covered the facade of the Academy with Veneto, a Nelissen Bricks facing brick.
FACING BRICKS EMPHASISE SOLIDITY
Archiles architects have opted for Veneto, a Nelissen Bricks facing brick for the facade cladding. Veneto is a hand-moulded facing brick of the Limburg manufacturer’s Passion line. The base of the Veneto is red. The colour variations range from shades of orange-red to purple-red, varied with grey-blue nuances. The bricks are manufactured from Limburg loess, dug from the Kesselt plateau in the Meuse valley and upgraded with raw materials from Volcanic Eifel. Luk Segers: "We wanted to create an impressive volume which contrasts with the important position of Den Egger and the slope on which the swimming pool is situated. That’s why we were looking for a facing brick which strongly emphasises the solidity of the building. Nelissen Bricks’ dark, red-brown Veneto fitted that purpose perfectly. Moreover, it had to be possible to lay the facing bricks to create joints as thin as possible.
It could not be too erratic in form, but sturdy and cut at right angles. The Veneto facing brick fitted our requirements perfectly." Archiles architects have already worked with Nelissen Bricks before. “We have had good experiences with the brick manufacturer", says Luk Segers. "They offer a beautiful and high-quality collection which we continuously use in our projects."
"We wanted to create an impressive volume which contrasts with the nearby swimming pool and the important position of Den Egger."
The somewhat massive volume of the Academy for Sound and Music is supported by the underlying extra-curricular child-care.
FROM CLOSED OFF TO AN OPEN CHARACTER
The massive character of the building also originates from the undulating surroundings. "Scherpenheuvel - the Dutch word (Sharp Hill) is self-explanatory - is located against a sharp hillock", explains Segers. "The building of the Academy is also situated against a hillock. That’s why we have lifted the entire structure and a staircase takes visitors from the street to the entrance. The new building unfolds itself, moving the focus from being closed off on the Eggerstraat to the openness of the green square and the surrounding landscape. This movement is reinforced by a skew retaining wall leaning against the nearby slope."
The dark, rugged Veneto facing brick emphasises the solidity of the building.
Source : Bouwen aan Vlaanderen
Facing bricks greatly determine the looks of a building. Archiles architects are well aware of this too. The architects firm in Geel, Belgium covered the facade of the new Academy for Sound and Music in Scherpenheuvel-Zichem with Veneto, a facing brick from Nelissen Bricks. "This dark, rugged brick emphasises the solidity of the building", says architect Luk Segers.
Archiles architects designed the new building of the extra-curricular child-care (BKO) and the Academy for Sound and Music for Scherpenheuvel-Zichem. The complex was built on the site of the old swimming pool and the new cultural centre Den Egger. The BKO can accommodate a hundred children on the ground floor. "The combination of open and enclosed surfaces ensures an interesting interaction between the interior and external area of the BKO", says Luk Segers, business manager of Archiles architects. "The central service core runs through the building like a strong and visible shaft and provides the most important separation between the age groups. The somewhat massive volume of the academy is supported by the underlying BKO. The first floor includes, among others, classrooms, an auditorium, a lobby and an outdoor terrace. We have broken the predominantly enclosed character of this volume by using large vertical windows which gives a certain rhythm to the long facades." The building covers a total surface of 18.300 sq ft.
Archiles architects covered the facade of the Academy with Veneto, a Nelissen Bricks facing brick.
FACING BRICKS EMPHASISE SOLIDITY
Archiles architects have opted for Veneto, a Nelissen Bricks facing brick for the facade cladding. Veneto is a hand-moulded facing brick of the Limburg manufacturer’s Passion line. The base of the Veneto is red. The colour variations range from shades of orange-red to purple-red, varied with grey-blue nuances. The bricks are manufactured from Limburg loess, dug from the Kesselt plateau in the Meuse valley and upgraded with raw materials from Volcanic Eifel. Luk Segers: "We wanted to create an impressive volume which contrasts with the important position of Den Egger and the slope on which the swimming pool is situated. That’s why we were looking for a facing brick which strongly emphasises the solidity of the building. Nelissen Bricks’ dark, red-brown Veneto fitted that purpose perfectly. Moreover, it had to be possible to lay the facing bricks to create joints as thin as possible.
It could not be too erratic in form, but sturdy and cut at right angles. The Veneto facing brick fitted our requirements perfectly." Archiles architects have already worked with Nelissen Bricks before. “We have had good experiences with the brick manufacturer", says Luk Segers. "They offer a beautiful and high-quality collection which we continuously use in our projects."
"We wanted to create an impressive volume which contrasts with the nearby swimming pool and the important position of Den Egger."
The somewhat massive volume of the Academy for Sound and Music is supported by the underlying extra-curricular child-care.
FROM CLOSED OFF TO AN OPEN CHARACTER
The massive character of the building also originates from the undulating surroundings. "Scherpenheuvel - the Dutch word (Sharp Hill) is self-explanatory - is located against a sharp hillock", explains Segers. "The building of the Academy is also situated against a hillock. That’s why we have lifted the entire structure and a staircase takes visitors from the street to the entrance. The new building unfolds itself, moving the focus from being closed off on the Eggerstraat to the openness of the green square and the surrounding landscape. This movement is reinforced by a skew retaining wall leaning against the nearby slope."
The dark, rugged Veneto facing brick emphasises the solidity of the building.
Source : Bouwen aan Vlaanderen
