Contemporary urban life and internationality embodied in the 5TRACKS

In the city of Breda, Netherlands, in the long-neglected and now revitalized station district, the new multi-building 5TRACKS with its spaces for offices, housing, a hotel, and community facilities, leaves its vital mark

A complex of three buildings with a monolithic triangular shape

5TRACKS is a complex of three buildings with a monolithic triangular shape that together redefine the urban boundary along the railway. The project, commissioned by Synchroon and JP van Eesteren, and designed by Shift architecture urbanism and Powerhouse Company, is one of the architecture projects that transforms the Central Station district into a new hub of contemporaneity, emphasizing the city's international role. Platform_A, Platform_B, and Platform_C harmoniously and effortlessly integrate with the nearby station and courthouse, providing citizens with new "green rooms" in the gardens and contemporary spaces in the large halls to enjoy city life

The functions contained within the new complex

The three buildings of 5TRACKS stand out for the tones and textures of the facades, managing, at the same time, to declare a formal unity: the variations of the moodboard refer to earthy reds, cream color, and gray-green. The functions contained within the new complex bring vibrant vitality to the area. The Platform_A hosts, in addition to the conference center with restaurant, a hall with bistro and public terrace; blocks B and C have 15,700 square meters of offices and, above these, 168 apartments. Inside Platform_B and Platform_C open up large public spaces illuminated by extensive glass surfaces: true urban lounges

5TRACKS encourages conviviality

Everything, both indoors and outdoors, in the design of 5TRACKS encourages conviviality. The interior design, created in collaboration with Dutch Invertuals, is a material journey through areas for concentration, others for informal meetings, and pleasant lounge areas: fabrics playfully reference natural elements, grassy carpets and curtains among the clouds, all chosen materials stimulate the senses

Sustainability core design of 5TRACKS

Sustainability is the core design of 5TRACKS. The garden is designed to increase biodiversity, the facades are clad in recycled brick, the roof of the underground parking lot on which the garden sits captures and holds 400,000 liters of rainwater, a geothermal system provides climate control for the entire complex, and finally, solar panels on the roofs ensure electricity supply to the buildings

Gallery

Photo credits
Top image: Sebastian van Damme
Content Images: 1 - 3 Sebastian van Damme; 4 Pim Top
Gallery images: 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 Sebastian van Damme; 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15 Pim Top; 4, 12 Ronald Smits

Designers credits
Powerhouse Company: Stefan Prins, Dik Houben, Muamer Tabakovic, Kevin Snel, Martijn Ravia, Thowalfakar Humady, Gert Ververs, Giovanni Andrea Coni, Sefer Burhan

Companies credits
Client: Development partnership
Synchroon and J.P. van Eesteren
Concept and development management: Vigo
Landscape architect: CULD
Furniture & styling: Dutch Invertuals
Fixed interior elements: Shift architecture urbanism and Powerhouse Company
Contractor: J.P. van Eesteren
Structural engineer: IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs
Installations: Techniplan
Building physics and fire consultancy: LBP Sight
Technical drawings: VDNDP
Brand identity: Edhv.
Photography: Sebastian van Damme, Pim Top, Ronald Smits
Shift architecture urbanism: Thijs van Bijsterveldt, Oana Rades, Harm Timmermans, Mathijs Boersma, Kyoung Ho Choi, Philip de Klerk, Aliki Konstantinidou, Tom van Loon, Zoé Renaud, Niki Sedláčková, Tim Stoop, Marinda Verschoor, Paul Voorbergen

PEOPLE

Powerhouse Company

Antoine Platekade 1000, 3072 ME Rotterdam, The Netherlands Bavariaring 26, 80336 Munich, Germany Waldemar Thranes gate 98, 0175 Oslo, Norway Avocado Towers, Muthithi Road, Westlands, 45669 Nairobi, Kenya