Description

Plan T is a striking new addition to the evolving Spoorzone in Tilburg, a vibrant business hub situated at the newly designed station square. This dynamic redevelopment of the former Dutch Railways workshops pays homage to the site’s industrial roots with a bold, modern design. At the heart of the building’s identity is the use of the iconic basket arch, a nod to the historic Koepelhal, a landmark structure that defines the beginning of the Spoorzone. This arching form repeats throughout the design appearing in the building’s cross-sections, gable ends, dormers, windows, arcade, and entrance creating a cohesive architectural rhythm that binds the entire structure together. It mirrors the natural fractal geometry seen in nature, where the same form appears at multiple scales, reinforcing the building’s design integrity.

The expansive, industrial-style windows not only flood the interior with natural light but also evoke the rugged charm of the site’s past through their grand proportions and strong profiles. The construction utilizes prefabricated techniques, with load-bearing sandwich panels and a column structure. The intelligent profiling of the brickwork seamlessly hides the construction joints, the horizontal lines vanish into recessed layers, while vertical seams are tucked away behind rainwater pipes, maintaining a clean and unified facade.

The lower two floors feature traditional masonry, with deeply recessed windows and two-story high openings that form an arcade-like base. This design enhances the accessibility and openness of the ground floor, which houses lively cafés and restaurants. Inside, a captivating seven-story atrium runs through the core of the building, acting as a lightwell that fills the interior with daylight, like a beacon guiding visitors into its heart.

Plan T is fully electric and proudly holds a BREEAM “Very Good” certification, achieved in part through innovative floating climate ceilings. These ceilings leave elements of the building’s structure and piping visible, amplifying the raw industrial aesthetic. The building’s curved arches also evoke the “Plan T” train sets that were designed and built on this very site in the 1960s, a nostalgic nod to the trains that shaped the image of the Dutch Railways for decades.

In this way, Plan T stands as more than just a modern building, it’s a new architectural landmark for Tilburg’s station square, deeply rooted in the site’s industrial heritage while looking boldly towards the future.