Vitens (formerly known as Hydron) office building Utrecht, The Netherlands 2001 - 2005

The design of the building for N.V. Hydron Midden-Nederland responds to the client's need to upgrade its existing facilities. It is intended not only to modernize but also to express the progressive and dynamic spirit of one of Holland' most sophisticated enterprises- the national waterworks authority. Therefore, we preserved the architecturally significant elements of its handsome 1970's office building in Utrecht and focused on reconfiguring the internal spaces and the entire perimeter. Additionally, as we modernized the infrastructure we also created a new open entryway, new office floor area and a new perimeter envelope including an expressive glass bio-climactic southern facade. When we are working with new construction, we usually strive for the design to appear to defy gravity and our buildings are light and transparent. To this end we usually limit the ground floor program and raise the building on columns above it. We use as much clear glass to enclose the building as possible with areas that allow perspective views totally through the volume. We are careful to make a skyline at the topmost story and conceal the mechanical roof buildups. We think of the four facades, sometimes five considering the roof, as individual design opportunities that respond to the local context and sun orientation in a sophisticated way. In the Hydron design, even though we are working with an existing construction, we are working within these architectural objectives. The existing Hydron building has a distinctive perimeter column structure and two internal voids on the North side. We have preserved the columns and filled in the internal voids with new floor space. The ground floor presents a wonderful opportunity to introduce a reflective water pool practically all around the ground floor. This is achieved by consolidating the basement program into the Northeast corner. New entry bridges from the north and south sides are over the water and pass under the first floor breezeway. This open area allows for the staging of separate entrances to the public reception functions of the waterworks distinct from the company offices and laboratories. The southern facade will become a recognizable company landmark consistent with a progressive image. In an elemental way it has a strong presence and stands out as a beautiful contemporary design. It is all the more relevant as a sophisticated environmental control system that regulates heat gain and loss for a portion of the building. It is a transparent curtain that traps air between it and the all glass office façade immediately beyond. This space vents warm air upwards beyond the suspension structure that is also used to establish a characteristic skyline. The office curtain wall has sliding full floor glass doors that serve as virtual doors to expand the experience of the office space.