Indra Bilsen
The City of Hasselt and the Albert Canal. PHL Diepenbeek (Belgium)
Design: Agora
On the basis of the first part of the project - an architectural analysis of the whole area along the Albert canal - we established that the area should get more appeal. The area offers a good potential with beautiful perspectives and views.
We 've chosen to work with different axes, to accent this pleasant place.
Each axis has a specific feature which provides an interesting keypoint. This point forms the connection to the city. (e.g. the student axis, gate axis)
The second part of the project consists of an architecturial analysis, on a smaller scale, of the student axis. On the basis of this, I 've made another analysis (from the Elfdelinie lane to the Albert canal) which formed the base of the concept.
The architectural concept provides a bigger connection between the different schools and the Demer is upgraded. To intensify this connection, I freed the Elfdelinie lane from all traffic and provided an underground parking space near the circle line.
If one would extend the student axis in the direction of the Albert canal one would find an interesting old steel factory, which could serve as a keypoint for the area (the area around the student axis and the Albert canal).The building is intended to become a meeting place between the two axes. It is called the “agora” : a greek term with a multiple sense. It will form an intersection and the centre of public life, containing multiple functions such as: restaurant, information desk, library, meeting rooms and an auditory.
The circular auditory, which is the sightseeing point between the two axes, is the attractive part of the building and can be used by schools as well as by trading companies in the surrounding area. Thereby, the various activities will be mixed and students and merchants will be able to exhibit their specialities and give lectures. Thus, various individuals will come into contact with one another and the building will function as a meeting place.
To attain this end, I 've opened up the steel factory so that it becomes a covered square - accessible in many ways - by which the Albert canal is integrated. The square also provides an easy access for the surrounding public places, and the square itself can be used for all sorts of activities.
The agora constitutes a public learning centre (containing an information desk, a library and an auditory) and a recreation area (containing a restaurant, a café and a cybercafé). It’s meant to be a large public continuous space which combines several activities.
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