© Xaveer De Geyter Architects . Pubblicata il 24 Maggio 2005.

Remarks by the jury

© Xaveer De Geyter Architects . Pubblicata il 24 Maggio 2005.

The project aims at achieving a long-term contextual coherence between the surrounding city-fabric and the EPO complex. A valuable urban strategy is being proposed, integrating the project within a series of high-rise buildings along Veraartlan and opening the existing park visually to neighbouring areas.

© Xaveer De Geyter Architects . Pubblicata il 24 Maggio 2005.

The scheme progresses logically from this tenet – both in terms of its siting as well as volumetric composition. A series of bipolar terms guides the project’s conceptual framework: low vs. high, horizontal vs. vertical, front vs. back, inside vs. outside, diversity vs. unity, field vs. object. Through the careful juxtaposition of such differences, qualities arise. Thus the new complex’s dichotomy between the vertical structure forming a gateway and a horizontal arrangement of spaces forming a forecourt is convincing, insofar as it establishes a simple and robust organizational matrix for the entire scheme. The Janus-faced makeup of the façades persuasively accentuates the differences between the campus’s inside and outside territories.

The lower folded landscape of sloped ramps and surfaces seems to partially succumb to prevalent fashions. It is here that functional requirements were compromised – i.e. the interior connection between the existing “The Hinge” and the new tower building appears to be complicated and inefficient. Positively appraised is the extended car park on the site of the former EPO Tower, providing a continuous roof garden. Critical are potential problems of wind-turbulences within the project’s large openings as well as the shadow cast onto neighbouring sites.

Functionally, the new high-rise building offers a high degree of flexibility. This is even more to be commended as the design provides an excellent ratio between net and gross surfaces as well as between usable areas and circulation zones. All in all, an outstanding scheme and valuable contribution to the European Patent Office competition.