preconditions
vacant office building
project goal
?
by means of design, how can
the architect contribute to
make conversion projects
more feasible on a large scale?
requirements design considerations technical considerations final conversion concept
converted building unit design construction in steps
A standard office dimensions A generate extra floor space A positioning wet cells A canterlevering units
without large interventions
1 strip office façade
materials can be recycled
> large moment of force
> shear forces (wind)
outside of building inside of building
> cost effective (€ / m2 office > € / m2 housing)
> add balconies & outdoor spaces + more space inside building + optimize natural lighting
> optimize views on surroundings - wet cell blocks natural lighting + more space on outside of building
> grid size: 5.4 or 7.2 meter (basis: 1.8) > stabilize by integrated frame 2 prepare building structure
> rectangular shaped building
B minimize work on building B positioning shafts
B non-structural façade
> load-bearing frame along façade
place (leveled) rails
> leave building structure intact (as much as possible) drill new holes use existing shafts bring shaft to outside
> self-bearing construction (in balance)
3
+ drains on inside of building + use existing infrastructure + no custom work on building
- custom work on building - custom work on building + short distance for drains adjust for leveling prefab units
- more permanent solution - long distances for drains - drains on outside of building
C mixed-use programming
> building-physically outdated
> unattractive façade for converted function
B securing to the building
C new façade
LIVING GREEN LIVING LIVING LIVING
WORK WORK WORK WORK
C basic building structure GREEN
problematic gaps
LIVING LIVING LIVING
LIVING GREEN LIVING
GREEN
LIVING LIVING
4 slide in prefab unit (in segments)
over steel rails with teflon (97% friction reduction)
office structure as support for prefab WORK WORK WORK WORK closed units closed unit + add façade elements open unit + façade element connection between units
LIVING LIVING LIVING LIVING LIVING > problematic gaps (weather, water) > more work on façade > systematic elements based on 1.8 m > use margin for smart systematic element
> rest on existing (hanging) office floor
> no abilility to adjust (for leveling)
> incooperating: shafts & extra floor space > possibility for extensions (balcony ex.)
> work/living concept
> flexible unit design
> load-bearing structure over-dimensioned (300-500 kg/m2) D linking units
D height clearance
> guiding rail - close to columns 5 connect installations to shaft
sustainability > abilility to adjust (for leveling)
research concept / vision D no adjustments to the existing structure needed
+3750 +3750
vertical connection possible no vertical connection
C cold / warm construction
40 % 60 %
2750
reuse / recycle
P=0 P=0
link units outside building link units inside building
> best space is lost > best space is kept
> part of façade element? > building system must allow link
building structure material preservation
design research
> height clearance (floor to ceiling) from outside building
6 place façade-segment
> units are reusable and multi-deployable > warm building structure, insulation line outside new insulation line, shaft is closed off
office architecture > building structure can be used for years to come
> physical requirements easy maintainable in prefab
building characteristics
typology of office vacancy
> optimize use of daylighting
building process
conversion potential E transportation > cold building structure, insulation line inside
difficulties
opportunities
truck ¦ transport entire prefab unit truck ¦ transport prefab elements of unit barge ¦ transport entire prefab unit / elements
arguments database research designing within margins
€
> transport less space efficient > space efficient transport > less traffic movements needed
> entirely assembled in factory > further assembly on building site > transportation over water is location-specific
> limited to truck dimensions > limited to truck dimensions > less limitations in dimensions
> elements can also be assembled in factory +3600
office standard of 1800 mm +4000
margin 300 - 800 mm
+3780
3600
+3750
+3720
16.5 %
+3600
+3500
+3400
+3300
+3200
+3060
5400
total of 33 / 200 buildings
+2800
F deployment on site
7200 P=0 13 buildings - 5.4 m grid
20 buildings - 7.2 m grid
2700 mm
time efficient cost efficient standard sizes height clearance width clearance applicable
1 2 1 2
700 6500 mm 700 P=0
7200 mm
assembly in building assembly in one piece on building site assembly in slices on building site
> no space to move large parts around > deployment in one hoist movement > several hoist movements
> time inefficient > no space for error (horizontal movement not possible) > guidance needed from inside building
 01
basement plan ¦ - 6150 ¦ scale 1:200

02

8th floor ¦ + 29150 ¦ scale 1:200

level hertekade ¦ -3400 ¦ scale 1:200

plan + cross sections ¦ scale 1:50

1st - 6th floor ¦ + 3950 ¦ + 20950 ¦ scale 1:100

01 02
2 1

4 5 4 3

3 2 1

1 composite skin (8 mm) 4 steel frame (185 mm) 1 composite skin (8 mm) 4 space for drains

2 sandwich panel (PU foam) 5 steel rails + teflon tape 2 sandwich panel (PU foam) 5 wall element (50 mm)

3 space for drains 6 existing concrete structure 3 steel frame (185 mm) + insulation

details ¦ scale 1:5 location rotterdam ¦ boompjes 60-68 ¦ scale 1:2000 level boompjes ¦ + 700 ¦ scale 1:200 7th floor ¦ + 24350 ¦ scale 1:200 roof plan ¦ + 33950 ¦ scale 1:200
 1 aluminium cladding

2 waterproof layer

3 insulation material (100 mm)

1
4 vapor barrier layer
2
5 ceiling element (90 mm)
3
6 angle steel (100 mm)

7 adjustment space
4
8 aluminium window frame
5

6 7 8

view SE façade ¦ scale 1:200

1 floor element (90 mm)

2 aluminium window frame

3 waterproof layer

4 damping layer

5 insulation material (100 mm)

6 omega profile

7 aluminium cladding
1 2

03 4 5

1 composite skin (8 mm)

2 protection layer

3 ceiling element (90 mm)

4 steel frame construction (100 mm)

04
3

05 view NW façade ¦ scale 1:200

1 top floor layer

2 floor element (90 mm)

3 steel frame construction (100 mm)

4 omega profile

5 insulation material (100 mm)

1

6 cladding adjustment
2
7 aluminium cladding

06
5

+32550

+32180

+29150
6

7
+28490

+24350

+23690

+20950
façade cross section + view ¦ scale 1:20 façade details ¦ scale 1:5
+20290

+17550

+16890

+14150

+13490

+10750

+10090

+7350

+6690

+3950

P=0

-700

-3400

cross section ¦ scale 1:200 view SW façade ¦ scale 1:200 view NE façade ¦ scale 1:200
-6150

970 7200 7200 970