Atom 6

ABOUT the project: intent and challenges

The location is de Vries van Heystplantsoen in Delft. Here are historical maps from 1915 and pictures of the site from 1925 and 1926 for a feel of area site history

Before going to the site to explore it, we tried to come up with what (site) aspects we wanted to look at, and how we were planning on doing that. The site is currently a park

The challenges

"In our own design work – the ‘context’ is a main centre of effort. It is not exactly a question of ‘fitting- in’, but of re-materialising, re-focusing – the words are difficult. The context may demand a totally invisible building or no building, a ‘countergeometry’ or a ‘continuation geometry’. In a way like decorating, re-arranging and ‘preparing’ a room, for a real homemaker, a real restaurateur or inn-keeper it is more than a question of taste: it is an act of both continuity and re-generation." Peter Smithson

To allow two systems to interact actively, in a sort of continuous exchange of information, knowledge and feelings in order to reactivate the potential network of the city.

The Problems:

- no relation between site and context

- no attractive elements

- a lot of traffic around

The Opportunities:

- becoming a bridge between city and TU/TNO

- new place to show scientific results

- becoming a new meeting point

- to extend the botanical gardens

- becoming a new landmark for the north entrance of the TU

The How: creating a public platform, a topological surface continuously molded, bent and deformed by the actions of the elements that compose the surface.

In this space there's no distinction between object and context but are privileged interconnections.

ABOUT our work

on these pages we will explain the what and why of what we do, from our analyses to our concept to our final design

Work overview