© Stijn Bollaert
- Architects: Civic Architects
- Location: Tilburg, The Netherlands
- Design Team: Ingrid van der Heijden, Gert Kwekkeboom, Jan Lebbink, Rick ten Doeschate, Gerjan Streng, Niels Boswinkel
- Area: 3500.0 m2
- Project Year: 2017
- Photographs: Stijn Bollaert, Pieter de Ruijter, Richard Boerop, Kees Hummel, Roderick van Klink
- Concept: Civic architects, Bright (Members of The Cloud Collective)
- Design & Engineering: Civic architects
- Partners: TheCloudCollective, Philips Lighting, Lustlab, Van Tetterode Glass Studio, WSP infra, Van de Ven bv, Aannemerbedrijf G. Michielsen bv, Van de Bersselaar Constructie bv
- Client: Municipality of Tilburg (NL)
- In Cooperation With: Van Tetterode Glass Studio, Philips Lighting, LUSTlab en Bright
© Stijn Bollaert
From the architect. The Willem II-shopping arcade is a new public space which connects the inner city of Tilburg with De Spoorzone, a transformation area to the north. CIVIC Architects and Bright produced a design which unites architecture, public spaces, heritage and room for circulation. The Willem II-shopping arcade is a major public connection under the railway track running through a former NS Dutch Railways workshop complex.
Concept Diagram Flow
The route, which is an extension of Willem II-street, is an inviting gateway to the previously inaccessible city area to the north of the railway track. The combination of the pull factor and use of the shopping arcade for cultural events acts as a catalyst for development of De Spoorzone. The Willem II-shopping arcade is dynamically lit and socially safe.
© Richard Boerop
Plan and Section
© Stijn Bollaert
Together with Van Tetterode Glass Studio and Philips Lighting a glass brick façade which combines strength with elegant sophistication was developed. Approximately thirty thousand LED lights are integrated in the wall. LUSTlab created a unique algorithm for this application, which controls the LED lighting at pixel level: the light colour and intensity adapt to the time of day, weather conditions and the flow of pedestrian traffic.
© Stijn Bollaert
© Pieter de Ruijter
© Kees Hummel
Committee statement: This project intelligently and attractively connects two separate neighbourhoods. It is well frequented, people seem to feel at home in the newly created environment and both sides of the shopping arcade are attracting more and more businesses. The architecture leaves a lasting impression and has been designed to look just as innovative and interesting in thirty years’ time as it does today; a form of sustainability which the committee appreciates.