KOSMOS Architects . AJDVIV (Architecten Jan De Vylder Inge Vinck) . JS Architektur . photos: © Filip Dujardin -model-
There are three inhabitants. Wanting to habit together. But also. Wanting to be who they are. There is one building. Or maybe four buildings. If not four distinctive parts of one building. Distinctive parts since different moments of building. Different moments of building as changings needs came along.
One distinctive line however. However only a technical building line (*). But possible the only line – except staircase and elevators – that suggest a vertical line that connects the different levels of the building of today. A thin line. But how longer one looks at it one starts to see – or at least to imagine – more in it. This vertical line is just a building joint. Or disconnection moment between two building phases. How important but invisible. How inspiring and imaginary it can become.
Connecting. Maybe the only thing to do. Connecting. As disconnecting. Defining the balance between proximity – togetherness – and distance – identity -. What is the good way of connecting at the same time identifying what is connecting. No fruitful connection without clear identity.
Imagine. That at first this even maybe unseen vertical line – the building joint – and even at second however seen vertical line is still without inspiration; then at third – after leaning back for a moment – the line receives some inspiration and becomes a starting point for developing an idea for an in between space reaching from below till above.
Reading. The single line as a double line. Stretching the space in between the double line to a space. Freeing the lines from just being straight lines to flexible lines. And in between a vertical space is found. Not anymore just conceptual. But adequate to each other need. Each other need at each other level. Each other need of each other inhabitant. Need to find each other. Need to be itself. And thanks to this space in between both needs at the same time.(**)
Vertical. As what is the only missing and by that need into this horizontal layered structure this building is. A vertical space other than elevators and staircases. A real vertical space that opens each level to the other level. Each side to the other side. But also.
Transversal. This rather longitudinal structure is not only vertical cut by this line but also transversal. And since the free movement of the line also free to open the one side of this building to the other side. The public side – the long side that never was open to the public – towards the other side – the longitudinal in courtyard side. (***)
_
team: KOSMOS Architects x AJDVIV (Architecten Jan De Vylder Inge Vinck) x JS Architektur
Jan De Vylder, Inge Vinck, Leonid Slonimskiy, Artem Kitaev, Jan Skuratowski, Barbara Mazza, Dmitriy Prikhodko, Natasha Krymskaya, Claudio Cortese, Jacopo Zani, Matyas Molnar, Masa Mori, Elizaveta Trofimova, Semyon Selyutin, Celien Demets, Liselore Avermaete, Manon De Cuyper.
Mario Monotti: Structure
Sabine Nemec Piguet: patrimony specialist
Studium Conseil: MEP engineering
Amstein Walthert: Building physics, MEP engineering, Sprinkling systems, Acoustics
Mati.ch: light consultancy.
Ecoservices: fire security specialists.
Photography of the model: Filip Dujardin
