De Curve

Transparency is one of the core values in the operations of the organization that will occupy this office building, and it was therefore a key starting point in the design. The fully glazed façade without mullions maximizes visibility and daylight penetration.
The shape of the building basically follows the existing building line of the neighboring properties; the façade steps in and out where differentiation is required by the program or function. The façade band also detaches from the rest of the façade at specific points, creating overhangs to limit solar gain.

At the corner near the intersection, where the views are best, the upper floor cantilevers outward to accentuate the corner. That same floor steps back on the courtyard side, creating space and allowing a rooftop garden to emerge. The entrance is also marked and articulated in this way.

We aimed to keep the detailing as pure as possible to maximize the effect of the interplay between the façade band and the glass: the height of the band had to be the same everywhere, and the glass on both floors also needed to have the same height. A key challenge was that the façade band sometimes follows the glass and at other times detaches from it.

In addition, the vertical section of the band is sometimes an interior detail and at other times an exterior one. The roof build-up has a different thickness than the intermediate floor, which in turn differs from the canopy.

All these boundary conditions created quite a puzzle, which we resolved in part by varying the floor heights and thereby absorbing the height tolerances. There are no mullions between the glass panes; instead, a sealant joint is used to keep interruptions to an absolute minimum. The structural glass is custom-made and was developed jointly with Octatube, who also constructed the façade.

The building generates all of its own electricity through solar panels. The moss green roof improves rainwater infiltration. CO₂-controlled zone ventilation and occupancy sensors for the lighting ensure that no energy is wasted. The building will receive an energy label of A++++ and performs 70% better than the building regulations require for the EPC.