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Strijp T, TAQ (waterpump building to office building)

The Netherlands, Eindhoven
Strijp T

After the successful redevelopment of Strijp S in Eindhoven, it is now time for Strijp T to be transformed. The former Philips production site will focus on innovation with creative and technological manufacturing companies. At the forefront of this development stands the TAQ building that has been the home of High Tech company Settels Savenije (STTLS) since 2017. The Pump building TAQ is located on the west side of Strijp T.

In between the beautiful “Glaslab” and a richly wooded plot, it is the most charming location on Strijp T.

The design for the transformation of the building, executed together with Paul Goltstein of Bo.2 architectuur en stedenbouw, has been nominated for the Dirk Roosenburg Prize; the prize for the best architectural project in Eindhoven.
Pump building TAQ

The building was originally used to purify waste water produced by the Philips factories. It was designed in the early 1950s by the Philips Engineering Office that was responsible for almost all of the company's real estate. Despite the functional approach, over the years the Engineering Office has certainly developed a recognizable architecture that is starting to acquire a cultural-historical value, especially in Eindhoven.

The buildings are characterized by beautiful and solid brickwork, often with concrete frames and modernist, white, steel glass facades. The same applies to the TAQ pump building. That is why the starting point for the design has been to minimize affecting the existing character of the building, both in the interior as in the facade.
This was difficult. The largest part of the building consists of thick concrete water basins and purification tanks that are mostly situated underground. Every hole that has to be made here takes days of sawing. In fact, at first glance only the central hall seemed to be usable as an office space.

The main solution was to add two patios at strategic locations that provide the underground spaces with daylight. In addition, the patios also provide a view of the surrounding buildings and trees from the work floor.

The locations of the other added windows have been carefully chosen; firstly to damage the existing structure of the building as little as possible and to save heavy breaking work, but also to frame the surrounding greenery as well as possible. The new aluminum frames have a dark gray color while the existing fronts have been replaced by snow-white renovation frames as in the original design. This way you can see what the adjustments were in the facade. The cuts and drill holes internally are often left in sight and the inner walls are consistently made of glass. In this way the original structure of the building and the interventions are very well recognizable.
New assembly building

As far as possible, the new assembly building will participate in the concept of the pump building. The green environment is the main theme. Therefore, the building is literally built around a large existing tree. On the side of the richly wooded plot, a huge glass facade has been created, allowing employees to look into the forest as well as to the pump building from the work floor. The volume of the extension steps up on one side so that it connects subtly to the pump building.
The appearance of the shiny aluminum facade panels deliberately contrasts with the solid brickwork of the pump building. In this way the old and the new are clearly separated because the contrast emphasizes the quality of both parts. The assembly building has been placed on a brick base that connects to the lowest roof of the pump building. This base is continued as a brickwork wall that borders the garden.
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Geva Vastgoed
Strijp T, Eindhoven (NL)
Re-allocation waterpump building to office building
Offices 2200 sqm, Industrial hall 650 sqm
2016
Build
Niels Olivier, Paul Goltstein
Bo.2 architectuur en stedenbouw
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