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Project | Educatorium

Location | University of Utrecht, the Netherlands

Architects | OMA, Rem Koolhaas, Christophe Cornubert,


Richard Eelman, Michael Melenhorst, Jacques Vink,
& Gaudi Hoedaya

Area | 110,000 sf

Completion | 1998
N

Site Plan | See Above

Concept | Two pieces of paper which fold and


connect to each other. the plane is both
internal and external.
East-end Structural System

The Examination Area cantilevers and is


suspended by large beams on the roof.

Columns in this area do not go to the


concrete slab below. Floor plates have
Vierendeel girders which carry the load.

examination

auditoria

entry

cafeteria

North Elevation | scale 15’-0”


Eastern Elevation | no scale
West-end Structural System

Auditoria side of the building. Concrete sheet is


meant to curve and span 25 meters, yet maintain
a 20 cm thickness. This truss system helps to sup-
port the concrete.

examination

auditoria

entry

cafeteria

North Elevation | scale 15’-0”


West-end Auditorium

Within the space of the auditorium, OMA


wanted to maintain the 20 cm thickness
of the concrete. The span of the ceiling
however, was problematic.
The longer the span, the thicker
the concrete needs to be & the
need for steel reinforcement arises.

Upper & lower pressure zones are


established within the concrete. Lower
pressure zones are in tension.

Approximation of building foundation. Concrete in tension serves


no structural purpose. Thus,
OMA resolved to remove this
Section through auditorium | scale
15’-0”
unnecessary zone. This main-
tains the strength, span, and
desired material thickness.
First Floor Axonometric | no scale
open sitting area
Throughout the building, the Northern end is treated
openly while the Southern end is treated in a more
closed manner. This is expressed through materials
as well and levels of opacity and translucence.
glazing

ramp

auditorium

auditorium

mixture of solid materials

Ground Floor Axonometric | no scale


bike parking The columns in the cafeteria area decrease in quantity
as you move towards the North. It appears that there
are only two columns supporting the floor above at
entry this end. However, the two columns create a hybrid
N truss with the slanted floor plane. The lower end of the
truss is within the floor slab.

Deformation of the space is created by this changing


density of columns.

kitchen
cafeteria

kitchen
Third Floor Axonometric | no scale

roof garden

Second Floor Axonometric | no scale


West End Section Detail | no scale

Pin Joint

glass perpendicular to
exterior glazing

Truss Detail | no scale


Exterior Glazing Section & Details | no scale

North Facade | showing glazing system

West Facade | showing perpendicular panes


West
- Maintaining the integrity of the concrete sheet

- Keeping the 20 cm thickness

- Concrete must remain continuous

- Has a constructive high point in the auditorium

North
- Maintaining openness

East - Use of materials to express this openness

- Regular in form - Use of less obvious structure to express openness

- Examination/testing block is more rigorous


Southern Side
- Typical steel frame with prefab. flooring
- A more closed off environment
- Concrete sheet works as a connector between this
side and the West side to bring the two separate - Use of materials to express this
systems together.
- Use of more structural columns to close space more
Southside Stairs
West Side
Exterior - 1st Floor
Exterior - Southeast
First Floor Plan | no scale

Ground Floor Plan | no scale


Third Floor Plan & Roof Garden | no scale

Second Floor Plan | no scale


Works Cited |

1. Kenchiku Bunka, 1998, March. Vol. 205, pp. 50-53

2. Domus, 1998, January. Vol. 800, pp. 42-47

3. Arch Plus (+), 1998, July. Vol. 142, pp. 13-15

4. Croquis, 1998. Vol. 88-89, pp. 64

5. A+U, 1998, Sept. Vol. 9, pp. 24

6. Abitare, 1998, December. Vol. 379, pp. 104

7. GA Document, 1997, December. Vol. 53, pp. 8-35

8. www.galinsky.com/buildings/educatorium/

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