Winning Europan project
Prize, Europan 10, Maastricht Sphinxkwartier
Esther Stevelink (NL/1974), Arie Bergsma (NL/1971)
GAAGA studio for architecture
Wattstraat 8
2316 SK Leiden
+31 (0)71 888 58 35
info@gaaga.nl
www.gaaga.nl
Name winning plan: HK 132 - U-TURNED
The U-shaped blocks, with their open sides, face Frontensingel. This means that the housing does not need sound-insulating façades. The screen that encloses the inner courtyard not only blocks the noise, it also creates an energy-saving atrium. In the intervention area the Brikkengebouw is integrated in the turned U-shape. The column construction makes flexible housing floor plans possible.
Project documentation (6.0 MB)
Quotation from the jury report Europan 10
Whereas many entrants tackled cumbersome defence works to combat the traffic noise from Frontensingel, the designers of U-turned opted for an approach which, on the contrary, is characterised by openness and transparency. The proposal of turning half-closed housing blocks 180° can be considered as positive criticism of the master plan.