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Architects: Bedaux de Brouwer Architects
- Area: 998 m²
- Year: 2015
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Photographs:Inpetto Fotografisch
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Manufacturers: VELUX Commercial, Functionals
Text description provided by the architects. The Houtloods is the oldest, still remaining building in the Spoorzone, a former site of the Dutch Railroad Company. The Houtloods is located in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and originally served as the railroad’s lumberyard. The exposed masonry arched structure opened up to the elements and allowed the lumber to dry naturally. Later on the masonry arches were filled in with brick and the enclosed building became a workshop.
During the renovation, Bedaux de Brouwer Architects reopened the infilled arches to highlight the structure and let in natural light. A glass wall behind the arched wall complements and preserves the ‘newly’ opened structure.
Inside the building, detached from the glass façade and timber roof, Bedaux de Brouwer Architects placed a large oak clad ‘furniture box’ that houses the newly added functions and program. The box facilitates offices, restrooms and storage, while in between the box and the glass façade public spaces are created. One side of the box forms an auditorium, the other side ends with an open kitchen and bar for the trendy restaurant, appropriately named ‘De Houtloods’.
