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The Zegel building, on the corner of major access roads to the city of Antwerp, is built for a mixed program of offices for the district police, residences, and the entrance to a metro station
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The entrance to the subway precludes the possibility of load-shedding at one corner of the site, a fact that defines the architectural form of the project by architecture firm HUB.The base of the Zegel building-the same height as the neighboring buildings-includes a 'Vierendeel' beam that spans the subway station and distributes the load of the tower volume located on the corner. The facade, on the other hand, is a light aluminum shell that dilutes the exuberant character of the structure, giving the building a relaxed, almost classical articulation

The police station is located on the ground and second floors. The corner 'Vierendeel' beam is located behind the façade and also provides a circulation area within the station. The beam is positioned slightly back from the facade, this not only results in a free span on the ground floor, but also serves to distribute the load from the apartments located above

On the second floor of the building are three apartments ; two of these have terraces cut from the Zegel volume to create outdoor space, sheltered from the traffic of the surrounding area

A miniature tower, from the fourth floor onward, still houses an apartment on each level.
The floor plan of this area of the building is organized around a central core that provides a flexible layout. Here the materials used are simple to give expression to the structure of the building. Finally, a domed roof allows deep penetration of natural light

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Photo credits
Top image: LUCA BEEL
Content Images: 1, 3, 4 Hub - 2 LUCA BEEL
Gallery images: 2 a 10 LUCA BEEL - 1, 11, 12, 13 Hub
Drawings: Hub