EM225 01MAASTRICHT SOUNDGARDEN

RETURN TO THE CITY Maastricht’s population is ageing and shrinking. Towns and smaller cities are gradually thinning their population substance since more and more people are moving back to the capitals. This ongoing trend will have serious economic and social implications, phenomena similar to all European cities. Could we tackle this negative trend with spatial tools next to the political and capital reforms, to support the Return to the City?

The redevelopment of the Belvédère Maastricht area could be placed into this agenda. The existing masterplan for the Sphinxkwartier offers a solid basis. Our proposal is an exploration of further potential of the masterplan’s existing structure.

We have realised another yet important characteristics of this specific project. The “bestemmingsplan“ (legal spatial document) conventions for areas temporarily polluted with noise are still to be explored. The initial brief of the project address the focus on technical and design problem of the Sphinxkwartier architecture along the Frontensingel caused by the heavy traffic noise. Our proposal challenges the urban structural issue on top of the architectural solution. We offer the flexibility in actual and legal use for the inhabitants following two possible scenarios:

a. The NOW scenario, the Frontensingel with its traffic noise is on its location for longer period of time. The sound wall for all the four building blocks is designed as a habitable extension, the SoundGarden. Designed to deflect and absorb the pollution from the traffic noise. Only programs that are for temporary use and NOT for living take place there: SoHo (small office – home office), vertical garden, serre (winter garden) and extra storages. Apartment owners have the choice to configure their own sound barrier according to the specific needs of the household.

b. The AFTER scenario plays with the future plans, after the Frontensingel will become a local street with much lighter traffic. With removal of the road the legal problems for the “verblijfsruimte” (living space) along the road will be removed. In such case, the SoundGarden units can be converted into living areas: extra rooms, open balconies, extensions of the living rooms or different storages. Without any structural change, the west frontier of all the four buildings along the Frontensingel can then be fully opened towards the Belvédère extension to create the new lively avenue.

By giving end-users more flexibility and more options in time, we are able to pragmatically eliminate the existing noise pollution issues while at the same time allow additional services for the living experience and property potential of the future Sphinxkwartier development. The sound barrier becomes inhabited and after the removal of the road gradually the living can take place there.

2004 2008

117.998

2005 2006 2007

122.176

81.650

85.000

- 4178

- 3350

potential employee

population

urban wallmonumental buildingnew buildingcommunal plazacommunal gardensemi-private gardenprivate gardenpond

A. POPUlATION DEMOGRAPHICS

A: Maastricht Leaving population statistics (Source: gemeentelijke basisadministratie Maastricht)

From the statistics based on the recent 5 years in Maastricht, there, nearly 1000 people a year leave the city. Among them 80% are the potential employees. What kind of living environment for residing and working in Maastricht can attract the young families and entrepreneurial starters? Can we keep also the increasingly older population within the city border? Can we plan this in time?

B. TOWN ExPANSION

block N

block 11

block S1

block S2

NOW situation: 1. city border 2. separation between the old and new part of the city

AFTER situation: 1. city nods 2. connection between the old and new part of the city

inner city

Belvédère has an ambitious plan and is also the largest redevelopment urban area of Holland. One of the key premises is the relocation of northern part of the city ring road; Frontensingel, which will connect the inner city area with its greener hinterland. This changes the positioning of the Sphinxkwartier in the city from the city border to the city nods connecting the old and the new area. In order to make this connection alive and to make the good neighbourhood environment, a higher degree of permeable urban structure will become necessary.

B: Belvédère plan including the road relocation

C. NOISE NUISANCE

Belvédère

HIGHWAY

The existing road with heavy traffic will be removed if the Belvédère’s original plan will be executed. Due to the several reasons, it may take longer than initially planned, before the actual relocation. We take this uncertainty as a positive opportunity to add the flexible (non-fixed) space to the site. NOW and AFTER situations offer extra spatial use for the dwellers while effectively dealing with the current noise nuisance problem. Allowing different usages of the sound buffer area despite the noise pollution.

D. URBAN POCKET WAllExisting masterplan for the Sphinxkwartier area proposes clustering of the plots with the help of the traditional Maastricht garden-wall (tuinmuur) structure. We propose an extension of the circulation behind the walls to increase the variety of building blocks in order to improve the orientation of the apartments (more privacy, more sun). Communal courtyards are demarcated either with extra public functions (ie. ateliers, workshops and kindergartens) on the ground floor or gardens and playground squares. Different placements of the wall create pockets of communal programs within the more private open spaces while discretely separating the public from the private.

Within a relatively dense urban development the green areas are inspired with the urban local tradition of the garden-wall (tuinmuur) and the tree behind it. As a result of the “wall pocket” device, a various degree of urban gardens is established, ranging from privately owned to the communally or publically shared gardens.Each semi-open garden is structured around a theme: atelier space, kindergarten, pond or monumental character. Semi-closed communal garden functions as a flower/vegetable/fruit garden. They are organised with the narrower entrances and path widths, in order to maintain privacy and comfort.

E. SPHINxKWARTIER GARDENS

All four building blocks within the study area are built within the same urban structure, while diversified by an ambient and an urban flair. The character of the northern block (N) is made around the atelier spaces in the courtyard. Block 11 is about maintaining the historical character with the 100% conversion into the apartment units. The Southern block (S1) is a courtyard with kindergarten (“kinderdagverblijf”) behind the pocket wall. The most southern block (S2) is has a water ambience. There are two stories of apartment above the separated buildings with the ground floor public functions.

F. SPHINxKWARTIER STUDY AREA

C: Different use of the habitable Sound Garden within NOW and AFTER scenarios.

NOW situation: 1. Noise>35db 2. Narrow Pedestrian Zone (backside) 3. No connection across the road

AVENUE

AFTER situation: 1. Noise<35db 2. Wide Pedestrian Zone (frontage) 3. Good connection across the road

small pocket(pond)

big pocket(kindergarten)

sandwitched pocket(communal garden)

small pocket(public bench)

big pocket(Atelier)

sandwitched pocket(communal garden)

F2: sphinxkwartier study area pockets

1,000 peop/year= leaving Maastricht

80% = potencial emploee

enclosedcollective garden

closedprivate garden

semi-closedcommunal garden

public pocket /semi-private garden

E: Diversified hierarchy of green gardens

D2: Urban Pocket Wall principle

urban wall masterplan urban pocket wall

D1: Sphinxkwartier’s urban system - pocket wall devices

small pocket urban furnitureblock open to south pocket plaza

pocket communal service

big pocket

big pocket

shadow

block open to east

pocket communal service+

rooftop terrace

cut

sandwiched pocket communal gardeninbetween blocks

privacy

privacy

pocket garden

plazaplaygroundpond...

vegetable gardenflower gardenfruit tree...

community centrekindergarten galleryworkshop...

F1: Four blocks with different public gardens

0 50m

EM225 02MAASTRICHT SOUNDGARDEN

View towards the monumental buildingCourtyard view

View from the Frontensingel (birdseye view)

G. SPHINxKWARTIER SOUNDGARDENING

Habitable Sound wall along the Frontensingel is the SoundGarden. The proposal is eliminating two constraints: limited space for the garden on the ground floor and sound nuisance into new every-day spaces for dwellers. The actual design of the SoundGarden reflects the heavy traffic nuisance on the west away from the apartments. Northern sound absorbing walls are actively minimizing the noise impact along the east-west public street, preventing the noise to pass into the courtyards. Connectivity and permeability of the Sphinxkwartier is enhanced with the new entrances of the apartments at the Frontensingel, while the courtyard apartments have entrances from the courtyards over the lifted private terraces.

H. SOUNDGARDEN SYSTEM

I. SPHINxKWARTIER PERFORMANCE

All of the building blocks along the Frontensingel are noise protected with the habitable sound wall zone – the Sound Garden. The NOW and AFTER differentiation is inspired with the popular ground floor extension of the Dutch apartments, so called Serre extensions. Popular because tnew object requires no building permit if done within certain dimensions (2.5 width along the back-facade). SoundGarden system is made from sound protective units, transforming the ground floor habit of the Dutch serre extensions vertically. Flexible choice of usage allows the house owners to individually choose between the allowed configurations, according to their preferred wishes and demands. SoHo, Winter Garden, Serre, Storage can be quickly turned into Bedroom, Balcony, living rooms extension or extra room for kids. If the Frontensingel will be relocated, the actual use can be changed internally without any structural changes to the building.

serre

< 2.5m

SoundGarden modules are designed according to the criteria of noise, sun location and view, all relevant factors at their specific urban location, along the noisy road and on the west side of the building blocks.Traditional sound walls mainly deflect the sound, while traditional winter- and glass gardens are built to boost the energy and heat efficiency for the sheltered interior. Is there a space for improvement by merging them into a new whole?The noise is located on the West side of the buildings with considerable amount of sun. This can be used for passive solar heat gains in the winter time. Apart of the deflecting and absorbing the SoundGarden modules also take the future quality of the view across the Frontensingel into consideration. So instead of building just a brick wall, our proposal creates a lively Sound Garden with 3 functions:

1. buffering the noise, 2. heat gains with passive insulation and 3. allowing the future views over the new urban avenue, the Frontensingel.

Sound Garden modules not only extend the actual floor space, but also upgrade the possibilities for the green energy collection, home growing of food in winter gardens, flexible working environments or other flexible possibilities in the future.

In order to give the SoundGardens 100% physical connection without the horizontal communication space, two vertical shafts are proposed along the Frontensingel. Duplex configurations emerged for that reason, while penthouses are located on top to allow various apartment configurations. The existing brick building of Block 11 remains largely intact or it will be rebuild according to the monumental preservation guidance. Elevators and emergency stairs are a part of the sound-barrier area along the road wing, while new stairs are attached to the existing elevator shaft of the monumental building.

K. BlOCK 11 - DIFFERENTIATION

l. BlOCK 11 – PASSIVE HOUSE

SoundGarden façade along the Frontensingel is conceived as a key element of a so called Passive House concept. The basic idea is to reduce the energy usage of a home by 90% over traditional code built homes. With the proposed scheme is the thermal comfort achieved solely by post-heating or post-cooling of the fresh air mass, which is required to fulfil sufficient indoor air quality conditions without a need for recirculated air. Good insulation and highly efficient windows, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and a heat pump is proposed for this object.

Serre House extension

NOW AFTER

soho

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n

soho

stor

age

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soho

soho

stor

age

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SoHo bedroom

winter garden open garden

serre room extension

storage storage

H1: SoundGarden Noise Protection Zone - NOW and AFTER use

SoHo Bedroom

Wintergarden Open Garden

Serre Room

Storage Storage

NOW AFTERvalue value

0 100%

J: NOW and AFTER value matrix

I1: SoundGarden Form finding Parameters

K: Apartment configurations

L: Post heating/cooling of the air mass

J. BlOCK 11 – INVESTMENT MATRIx

After the relocation of Frontensingel, SoundGarden units could change their functional and legal status on demand. Such a change would result in an actual increase of the liveable floorspace area (net “verblijfsruimte”). This alone may become a decisive investment attractor for the future owners.

flat x 32 app. (incl. 4 penthouses)

duplex-A duplex-B x 9 app.

duplex-Cstudio x 8 app.

circulation

traditional

sound wall

+

traditional

green garden

=

Soundgarden

integration

Block Nfloors: 5 (G+4) m2footprint: (existing masterplan) 1.189,0 footprint: (new) 1.156,0

floorspace area: (existing masterplan) 5.586,0 floorspace area: (new) 4.876,0

differrence: 710,0-

Block 11floors: 6 (G+4, G+5)footprint: (existing masterplan) 1.120,0 footprint: (new) 1.246,0

floorspace area: (existing masterplan) 5.702,0 floorspace area: (new) 6.320,0

differrence: 618,0

Block S1floors: 5 (G+4)footprint: (existing masterplan) 1.102,0 footprint: (new) 1.192,0

floorspace area: (existing masterplan) 5.156,0 floorspace area: (new) 4.688,0

differrence: 468,0-

Block S2floors: 5 (G+4)footprint: (existing masterplan) 1.559,0 footprint: (new) 1.687,0

floorspace area: (existing masterplan) 7.398,0 floorspace area: (new) 8.012,0

differrence: 614,0

Intervention area total: m2 23.896,0

Footprint/Floorspace area Index

SoHo Bedroom

Wintergarden Open Garden

Serre Room

Storage Storage

NOW AFTERvalue value

0 100%

SoHoWintergarden

Serre

Storage

block 11

H2: House plan catalogue sample - NOW and AFTER

NOW AFTER

bedr

oom

gues

t roo

m

serr

eso

ho

kid'

s ro

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n

soho

stor

age

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gard

en

open

gar

den

dini

ng

serr

ew

inte

r ga

rden We became

70 years old. We spend most of our

time in the house. We want to enjoy our

house.

I rent a office space

in the city centre.

We’ve got the baby, we

need the bigger bed room.

base module

wintergardenstorage

I2: SoundGarden Modules

sohoserre

View from the Frontensingel (street view)

block N

block 11

block S1

block S2

urban wallnoise deflectornoise absorbervertical shaftcourtyard / terracecommon entranceprivate entrance (gl)public entrance

G: Distribution of Urban SoundGardens

G+4F

G+2F

G+4F

G+5F

G+4F

G+2F

G+4F

0 50m

Our son become 7 years old, he needs his

room.

Our daugh-ter visit us every weekend for a

blunch. We want a bigger dining

room. My tree is

growing big. Maybe I should

have a real garden.

I am a writer. I need a room to

write and the storage to keep my books.

I am starting to work for myself,

and I don’t have my office yet.

EM225 03MAASTRICHT SOUNDGARDEN

BG (10 app.: 8xflat, 1xduplex, 1xstudio )

1F (7 app.: 6xflat, 1xstudio )

2F (14 app.: 5xflat, 7xduplex, 2xstudio )

4F (9 app.: 7xflat, 1xduplex, 1xstudio )

5F(2 app.: 1xflat, 1xstudio )

3F (7 app.:5xflat, 2xstudio )

M. BlOCK 11 - FlOORPlANS

Four main elements provide 49 apartments with configuration of 8 studios, 28 flats, 9 duplexes and 4 penthouses:

- SoundGardens (orange)- Green Gardens on the ground floor (green)- Terraces and balconies on the courtyard side (beige)- Penthouses with the extended terraces and roofs suitable also for the photovoltaic elements (factory roofs resemblance).

Apartments are largely oriented towards the communal courtyard. The monumental brick building is visually kept disconnected from the new extension as a clear reminder of the Sphinxkwartier’s history.

N. BlOCK 11 – SECTION

Parking is planned only under the new extension, with 49 flats, for 1.5 cars per unit ratio. The main structure remains a reinforced skeletal concrete with the various infill (SoundGarden on the road side, windows and sunscreens on the courtyard). Different floorspace configurations are enabled per floor, while keeping the straightness of the vertical installation and communication shafts. SoundGarden modules are attached to the main structure with the sound vibrating absorbers. Energy collecting and ventilation techniques are relying on the heat recuperation system.

The new inhabitable Frontensingel frontier is filled with lively programs and household support. SoundGardens are functionally transformable in time and are henceforth offering an additional valuable attraction for the new owners of the Block 11 building.

O. FRONTENSINGEl

O1: Distribution of Urban SoundGardens along the Frontensingel

M: Block 11 Floorplans

48.60

51.65

54.70

57.75

60.80

65.10

Block 11 Elevations

48.60

51.65

54.70

57.75

60.80

65.10

South Elevation(Inner courtyard elevation with the most of the apartment openings oriented towards it)

48.60

51.65

54.70

57.75

60.80

65.10

48.60

51.65

54.70

57.75

60.80

65.10

North Elevation(Sound absorbing façade and a privacy wall for the adjacent building block)

West Elevation(SoundGarden façade along the Frontensingel)

East Elevation(A monumental elevation, with the distinctive new part)

N: Section

Courtyard ambiance

Frontensingel Soundgarden