The new headquarters of Shoesme, a childrens shoe's manufacturer in Tilburg, has been given two different faces. This conscious duality originated from its location in the city. On one side, the building has a classical facade that radiates allure and status and blends seamlessly into the historic ribbon structure of the city. The gap in this typical street structure is filled with a building that always seems to have stood there. As if a missing link is put in the chain. The other side of the building is recessed relative to the street, a playful modern shoebox is put on a black base and slid into a glass facade. This very pronounced statement hides itself to the unwary passerby. Thus, it has become a building with two very different faces. The design is a result of the collaboration between architect Joris Verhoeven and designer Teun Fleskens. The main entrance of the office is situated under the expanded-metal box at the Trouwlaan and immediately reveals what the company is about; design and manufacture contemporary childrens shoe's. It tells the story of materiality, layering and plasticity. The building changes from closed to open depending on the facade and the time of day. When it gets dark for instance the shoebox changes in a diorama.
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