precision breakthroughs
The Tinbergen building on Campus Woudestein was completed in 1970. Architect Cornelis Elffers designed an ingenious base consisting of a three-layer table construction in fair-faced concrete, topped by seventeen identical floors. Because the street on one side is lower than the square on the other, there are entrances on two levels. The precision breakthroughs proposed by cepezed create diagonal sightlines, thereby reinforcing the dynamism inherent in the two entrances.
concrete with formwork pattern
The concrete remains visible, including the formwork pattern, which accentuates Tinbergen's brutalist characteristics even more. The renovation and restoration of elements such as the honeycomb canopy on the square side are complemented with modernisation, sustainability improvements, improved routing and a completely new top floor with lots of glass. The previously rather low spaces now feel more spacious: the cut-outs in the floor result in a vide and provide a spacious entrance hall with a staircase that connects the two entrance levels.
triangular bay windows
The original glass building blocks in the roof above the new void were covered for a long time and are now being replaced by clear glass. The light, fully-fledged entrance hall will clearly define the building's appearance on Institutenlaan. The façade on the square will also allow much more light to enter. This light will come in through the holes in the honeycomb canopy and the triangular bay windows from Elffers' design, which are being reconstructed. Now that the cut-outs are in place, the effect of more light is already noticeable.