UNStudio has recently completed two remodel projects for retail outlets in the Netherlands: the 18 Septemberplein renovation in Eindhoven, and a second complete facade remodel on the P.C Hooftstraat in Amsterdam.

As part of Pan-European retail real estate investment manager Redevco’s redevelopment of the 9,000 m², four storey, "18 Septemberplein" C&A building (a significant piece of protected post-war architecture), UNStudio was invited to restore and connect this historical building to its existing urban context.
"During the Corona outbreak, at UNStudio we are taking all the necessary measures to safeguard our employees and our running projects, as well as to play our part in society at large.

However, with our architects and designers currently working from home and putting huge effort and dedication into their work, we also feel it is important to continue to celebrate our output. With that in mind…"
 

Project description by UnStudio

18 Septemberplein renovation in Eindhoven

As part of Pan-European retail real estate investment manager Redevco’s redevelopment of the 9,000 m², four storey 18 Septemberplein C&A building (a significant piece of protected post-war architecture), UNStudio was invited to restore and connect this historical building to its existing urban context.
 
Designed by Jan van der Laan and opened to the public with great fanfare in 1952, the C&A building was long held in high regard. However numerous alterations were made during its lifespan and the building is no longer considered dominant today. The modern addition of large, eye-catching entrances to underground bicycle parking facilities have also obstructed views to the building, with the result that it can no longer adequately express its identity, nor display a clear and recognisable storefront.

For this central refurbishment project, UNStudio therefore imagined a rebranding and a modernisation of the precinct. A cultural historical analysis of the building was carried out and design interventions were proposed based on the building’s historic values and the rhythm and ideas of the original architect. The philosophy of reducing material use to create lightweight structures formed the starting point for investigating the use of structural glass in the refurbishment.

UNStudio’s interventions include the repositioning of an entire floor in order to create better floor to ceiling heights and the return to a transparent glass plinth, as originally designed by Van der Laan, During the building’s lifetime, an extension was added to the roof. In UNStudio’s refurbishment, the roof is returned to the strong modernist aesthetic of the original design, while large illuminating glass motifs are installed on the facade, to celebrate Eindhoven’s design heritage, alongside its contemporary reputation as a centre of tech innovation.

“As ‘the City of Light’, Eindhoven is the perfect place for innovation. The use of glass in the C&A building not only creates a light construction, but it adds variation of depth to the otherwise flush plane of this historic facade. During daytime, the glass boxes act as ‘eyes’ to the public square, allowing the building to interact and communicate with the public, while at night the animated light installations suggest that the building is breathing as it illuminates the square.”

Ben van Berkel

These large glass additions take the form of a series of light-filled installations, which celebrate and complement the existing extruding windows on the north facade, whilst also serving to draw the gaze of passers-by towards the building.

An experience of light

Reflectivity and sheen are added to the facade through the ambitious construction of four large glass structures. At 5.5 meters wide, 7 meters high and weighing 3000kg each, these illuminated windows appear to float on the surface of the monumental facade. This effect was achieved through a close collaboration between ABT, Si-X and UNStudio, which resulted in the creation of interlocking and glued connections that form an ‘invisible’ support and mounting system.

This type and scale of glass facade construction has never before been realised in the Netherlands. In order to make the glued construction possible at such a large scale, the team undertook one a half years of extensive research - and of trial and error - before finally finding a solution that could provide the level of craftsmanship and engineering precision required.

Angled at 10 degrees to maximise visual connections at street level, the glass structures are illuminated by LED lighting – designed by the Dutch artist Arnout Meijer - which is reflected and diffused by a thin film on the inside of the glass. Optical effects created by this film form patterns of light, which appear to alter as people move across the square. As such, the original design motif of protruding glass windows is used to emphasise the heritage of the C&A Store, whilst strongly identifying it with The City of Light.

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Architects
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Project Team
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Ben van Berkel, Gerard Loozekoot with Filippo Lodi, Jacques van Wijk and Alexander Kalachev Hans Kooij, Atira Ariffin, Emma Whitehead, Erwin Horstmanshof, Gys le Roux, Nanang Santoso, Pietro Scarpa, Harlen Miller.
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Collaborators
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Advisors.- Project management: bbn adviseurs, Houten. Structure: SWINN, Gouda. Installations: W4Y adviseurs, Harderwijk. Architecture: Van Manen, Noordwijk. Glass structures: ABT, Delft. Light design glassboxes: Arnout Meijer Studio, Amsterdam.
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Contractors, suppliers
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General contractor.- Stam + De Koning Bouw, Eindhoven.
Glassbox contractor.- Si-X, Benthuizen (Wout Hoogendoorn, Andre Molenaar, Martijn Leeyen).
Glassbox glass supplier.- Thiele Glas, Wermsdorf (D).
Glass crown and aluminium panels.- Sorba Projects bv, Winterswijk.
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Client
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Redevco Nederland B.V
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Area
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Building surface.- 10744m². Building volume.- 51227m³
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Programme
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Renovation / remodel Department Store C&A.
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Location
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18 Septemberplein, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
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Photography
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UNStudio, founded in 1988 by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos, is a Dutch architectural design studio specialising in architecture, interior architecture, product design, urban development and infrastructural projects. The name, UNStudio, stands for United Network Studio referring to the collaborative nature of the practice.

Throughout 30 years of international project experience, UNStudio has continually expanded its capabilities through prolonged collaboration with an extended network of international consultants, partners, and advisors across the globe. This network, combined with the centrally located offices in Amsterdam, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Frankfurt, enables UNStudio to work efficiently anywhere in the world. With already 120 built projects in Asia, Europe, and North America, the studio continues to expand its global presence with recent commissions in among others China, South-Korea, Qatar, Germany and the UK.

As a network practice, a highly flexible methodological approach has been developed which incorporates parametric designing and collaborations with leading specialists in other disciplines. The office has worked internationally since its inception and has produced a wide range of work ranging from public buildings, infrastructure, offices, residential, products, to urban masterplans.

Current projects include the design for Doha's Integrated Metro Network in Qatar, the mixed-use FOUR development in Frankfurt, the wasl Tower in Dubai and the Southbank by Beulah development in Melbourne. Pivotal realised projects include the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Arnhem Central Station, Raffles City Hangzhou in China, the Mobius House in the Netherlands and the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam. UNStudio has received many awards, the last ones being Red Dot Award product design (2013), Media Architecture Award (2012), National Steel Prize (2012) and 28th International Lighting Design Awards Collector’s Loft (2012).

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Published on: April 1, 2020
Cite: "UNStudio completes two new retail renovations featuring bespoke glass designs [I] 18 Septemberplein" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/unstudio-completes-two-new-retail-renovations-featuring-bespoke-glass-designs-i-18-septemberplein> ISSN 1139-6415
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