Marga Klompé Building
A Circular Cube
Marga Klompé Building is the first college building in Europe to be entirely constructed from solid wood. The new, nearly energy-neutral complex is situated on a plot of land measuring 33 x 33 meters, within the forested campus of Tilburg University. The building accommodates a foyer, 1 auditorium, 13 lecture halls, and self-study spaces for approximately 1,000 students. Set within a wooded landscape, the building’s timeless form echoes the existing Modernist structures on the campus.
Together with our client, we upped our ambition during the design process resulting in a carbon neutral, completely circular, and BREEAM Outstanding design.’
👻Triumph in Timber
👻Triumph in Timber
With its predominantly cross-laminated timber structure, Marga Klompé Building is a fully circular pioneer in academic architecture. Tackling significant design challenges, the wooden rib floors span a groundbreaking 9 meters, while meeting the complex demands required by an educational building. The dry construction system employs 4.6 kilometers of timber beams that are demountable for future reuse. Additionally, hanging the limestone façade panels, rather than gluing them, allows the stone to be recycled too. Large windows flood the ground-floor foyer with light and bring the outdoors indoors. The centrally located staircase and clear sightlines make orientation easy and intuitive.
👻Timeless tranquility
From action to contemplation
Section — Spaces unfold naturally in the building, rather than being compartmentalized and organized along corridors. The staircase at the heart of the building connects the floors in a natural and intuitive way.
Ground floor — A total of 14 lecture halls and other functions, like a cafe, are dovetailed into our compact 30 x 30 meter building, meticulously placed in the space between the large foyer and main lecture hall.
First floor — A second 450-seat lecture hall plus a 100-seat hall occupy the first floor. Active functions like these are concentrated in the lower floors. The central staircase gives this organization an intrinsic logic.
Second floor — As you rise up through the building, the functions become more contemplative and restful, and the spaces smaller. Wood is used structurally throughout, with wooden rib floors spanning a groundbreaking 9 meters.
Third floor — On the top floor, there is a further reduction in room size, with more study rooms devoted to individual study. In the upper floors especially, the atmosphere is more contemplative than active.
By elevating our circular ambitions in our vision for the tender, we motivated the client to take the next step in sustainable educational buildings.’
SP
👻Contemplative Calm
👻Contemplative Calm
We took the Cobbenhagen Building as a starting point for spatial qualities but brought the design into the 21st century by opting for a palette of natural, circular materials such as wood, terrazzo, and plasterwork. These materials are prominently featured in the Marga Klompé Building and contribute to a serene atmosphere, from the spacious lecture halls to the intimate window niches. Additionally, wooden furniture has been used to enhance the tranquil study spaces. The expansive windows allow natural light to flood the space while playfully capturing a range of views, some unexpected – the sky, a single tree, or people walking to the campus.
👻Stimulating Settings
Together with Tilburg University, we achieved a maximally circular and energy-neutral design.’
SP
👻Intelligent Design
👻Intelligent Design
We’re proud to boast a BREEAM Outstanding certificate and achieving nearly energy neutrality. Not only have we delivered a wooden educational building, but we have also captured the essence of intelligent design. Every material has been carefully chosen and placed, allowing us to create not just a physical structure but also a monument to smart choices and sustainability. A well-insulated building envelope does the rest for a passive contribution to low energy usage. For this purpose, a special material has been chosen: the insulation partly consists of recycled denim jeans. Textile waste that would otherwise be incinerated is now used to create cotton insulation. It is sustainable and has proven to be an excellent way to improve the building’s acoustic comfort.
👻Four Faces for a Campus Hub
From the outset, we knew we had the right partner. Despite challenges, the ideas remained intact, allowing us to follow a clear course.’
