2314_POST ZUID
conversion of an office building into a fire station and homeless shelter
- Location :
- Antwerp
- Client :
- AG VESPA - Autonomous Municipal Company for Real Estate and Urban Projects of the City of Antwerp
- Team :
- AgwA
- Subcontractors :
- Bollinger & Grohman - Ingenium - Blasco - Atelier Arne Deruyter
- Planning :
- 2024
- Category :
- Ongoing
A simple placement of the new fire station and an open garden wall provide the site with new clarity, blending in dialogue with the surrounding area. The offset between the fire station and the homeless shelter results in two outdoor spaces. The garden serves as a waiting area and simultaneously acts as a buffer towards the city, creating an appropriate distance and intimacy. Additionally, the offset of the fire station volume creates space for the training ground, surrounded by greenery, which serves as a buffer with the nearby school.
The decision to align the vehicle hall with the neighboring sports hall allows for the creation of a drive-through station where vehicles can easily enter and exit, while freeing up space in the rear for a large training ground. This also gives the hall a clear urban presence, enhancing the coherence of the streetscape. As the operational heart, the vehicle hall is the perfect function to be showcased towards the street. The vehicle hall is directly linked to the central staircase and the workshop, which is centrally located. Recreation areas such as the fitness and dining rooms are located at the back of the building, offering a relaxing view of the surroundings. The central staircase efficiently provides access to all spaces, essential for the quick response of firefighters during an emergency. A double-height space and various diagonal sightlines also make the circulation area pleasant, both on the ground floor and the first floor.
For the homeless shelter, the base of the existing buildings will be partly demolished and the building depth reduced, to allow all rooms to benefit from natural daylight. The plinth is a central hub where all essential functions converge, such as the large kitchen with food storage, logistic access, laundry, and sanitary spaces. All are accessible through an operational entrance via the rear façade. The common rest and relaxation areas are designed as several smaller, dispersed spaces rather than one large room. These are located both in the sleeping areas and in the "tower”. The staggered placement of the (warming) kitchen and terrace, breaks up the dining and relaxation areas into cozier, smaller spaces. On each floor, the south-facing terrace offers a beautiful outdoor space. The bedrooms are small-scale and diversely furnished, accommodating 2 to 6 people per room with single beds, and no bunk beds. Some rooms also provide space for dogs. As in the fire station, robust, visible masonry is used here, but with a homely touch that allows for personal decoration and ownership. Several rooms also have space for dogs, as well as in the plinth facing the garden.
The fire station and the homeless shelter together form the new face of the site, with clear and autonomous circulation flows. The façade of the vehicle hall extends into an open garden wall that signals the homeless shelter. By playing with indoor and outdoor spaces, a unity is sought for the site while also clearly distinguishing between the different functions. The façade, made of white masonry, establishes a clear façade line. The two enclosed façades, which define the outdoor spaces, are made of red masonry. The visual identity and material choices for the façades enhance the accessibility and recognizability of the site.
The choice of materials focuses on durability and robustness. This is evident in the use of visible masonry and the reuse of the existing concrete structures of the base. The design also aims for easy maintenance, with accessible roofs via stairs, operable windows, and the use of low-tech techniques. The preference is for bio-ecological, locally produced insulation materials combined with a well-thought-out concrete and wood structure.
The decision to align the vehicle hall with the neighboring sports hall allows for the creation of a drive-through station where vehicles can easily enter and exit, while freeing up space in the rear for a large training ground. This also gives the hall a clear urban presence, enhancing the coherence of the streetscape. As the operational heart, the vehicle hall is the perfect function to be showcased towards the street. The vehicle hall is directly linked to the central staircase and the workshop, which is centrally located. Recreation areas such as the fitness and dining rooms are located at the back of the building, offering a relaxing view of the surroundings. The central staircase efficiently provides access to all spaces, essential for the quick response of firefighters during an emergency. A double-height space and various diagonal sightlines also make the circulation area pleasant, both on the ground floor and the first floor.
For the homeless shelter, the base of the existing buildings will be partly demolished and the building depth reduced, to allow all rooms to benefit from natural daylight. The plinth is a central hub where all essential functions converge, such as the large kitchen with food storage, logistic access, laundry, and sanitary spaces. All are accessible through an operational entrance via the rear façade. The common rest and relaxation areas are designed as several smaller, dispersed spaces rather than one large room. These are located both in the sleeping areas and in the "tower”. The staggered placement of the (warming) kitchen and terrace, breaks up the dining and relaxation areas into cozier, smaller spaces. On each floor, the south-facing terrace offers a beautiful outdoor space. The bedrooms are small-scale and diversely furnished, accommodating 2 to 6 people per room with single beds, and no bunk beds. Some rooms also provide space for dogs. As in the fire station, robust, visible masonry is used here, but with a homely touch that allows for personal decoration and ownership. Several rooms also have space for dogs, as well as in the plinth facing the garden.
The fire station and the homeless shelter together form the new face of the site, with clear and autonomous circulation flows. The façade of the vehicle hall extends into an open garden wall that signals the homeless shelter. By playing with indoor and outdoor spaces, a unity is sought for the site while also clearly distinguishing between the different functions. The façade, made of white masonry, establishes a clear façade line. The two enclosed façades, which define the outdoor spaces, are made of red masonry. The visual identity and material choices for the façades enhance the accessibility and recognizability of the site.
The choice of materials focuses on durability and robustness. This is evident in the use of visible masonry and the reuse of the existing concrete structures of the base. The design also aims for easy maintenance, with accessible roofs via stairs, operable windows, and the use of low-tech techniques. The preference is for bio-ecological, locally produced insulation materials combined with a well-thought-out concrete and wood structure.
