Vincent Hector - HUQ Utrecht

HUQ Utrecht

For the HUQ competition Utrecht I was responsible for the complete design in this architectural competition. Although we secured second place, the process was incredibly rewarding. The initial envelope was provided by the city’s urban designer, which I then developed into a full concept. The façades were entirely generated through procedural design techniques using RailClone.

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Due to the strong growth of its population and the physical limits to extend its historic center the city of Utrecht has decided to stimulate the creation of a new “Healthy Urban Quarter” on the Southwestern flank of the railway tracks. The affected area which currently contains big parking lots, some small scale apartment buildings, Office and hotel towers, a cinema and the spacious complex of the Utrecht Annual Fair is intended to be developed into a new and vibrant central urban district with modern appearance and healthy and sustainable character. The development plot of Stroom with its strategic position at the corner of Croesenlaan and Jaarbeursboulevard has been given the role to anchor an identifiable flagship building of this new urban development.

The project “Stroom” , a composition of two separate architectonic volumes of approximately 90 (NE) and 70 (SW) meters height, 75 150 m2 GFA of mixed program stands on a footprint of 6500 square meters. The Northeastern Building with its recognizable bow facing towards the central station provides space for office, smaller apartment types and universal exposition spaces which are combined into a unique cultural topography in and around its central atrium. An inviting and generous entrance towards station and historic city center simultaneously gives room to a public stair which makes an elevated roof park accessible for visitors and inhabitants. This distinctive “city balcony” on 25 meters height includes a spectacular running track and stretches far out to the roof of the southwestern building which consists of an educational facility, living and working environments. The program in both units is generally organized to span from public and semipublic functions on the lower floors to private apartments on the upper floors.

Social and collective ingredients of a balanced urban living environment were taken under consideration and inspired to enrich “Stroom” with sufficient areas to meet and informally communicate with other neighbors. Beside technical aspects of sustainability measures to build a community for future inhabitants is an essential intention to improve social cohesion throughout the entire project.

In order to comply with the ambitious sustainability standards of BREEAM outstanding and WELL platinum materials of construction were chosen to have low impact during their production and to be suitable for circular reuse. Furthermore extensive measures were taken to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumptions of the building during its operation but as well while being constructed. Two “Powernests” - cutting edge power generation devices on the top of both units harvest wind- and solar energy at the same time.

“Stroom” sets a new national standard of being not only exceptional in saving valuable ressources and self – sustaining power generation but takes all social and health aspects of contemporary and future urban living under consideration. It is therefore a truly unique architecture to enrich the city of Utrecht by setting most ambitious standards for a new healthy urban quarter.

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