The brief called for the transformation of a dated mall into an all-round leisure destination from 70,000 sq m to 200,000 sq m – making it the Netherlands’ largest mall. The renovated centre incorporates new amenities – from a museum and cinema, to a car wash and ‘dog hotel’ – and upgrades its existing functions. Moreover, the mall offers a unique experience, becoming a leisure attraction and upgrading shopping from the completion date, March 18th 2021, on.
The design should unify the sprawling building and create one strong identity. The silk scarf ties all elements together in a fluid, dynamic and stylish way. The white scarf pulls the building together, here and there opening with a flourish to allow visitors to enter the mall.
The fluidity of the scarf is central in the interior too, where a flowing figure of eight loops takes visitors on a journey with something new around every corner. White marble with flowing black lines create a backdrop for retailers to shine – accented by more spectacular materials for key Plazas – and enhance the unbroken spatial quality.
The glass-fibre reinforced concrete is used in the façade design in super-thin moulded panels in soft waving forms – an unexpected use for the familiar material.
Reusing the existing structure makes the Mall a sustainable project. An aquifer thermal energy storage system (ATES) and LED lightning save energy. The use of glass-fibre reinforced concrete made the building’s façade unusually thin, and saves materials. The Mall has a BREEAM “Very Good” score for New Construction and “Excellent” for Renovation.
All the information about how to enter the 2022 WAN Awards is here.
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