Article
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
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
Gallery
