Our architectural
design for the new Electrabel power plants in Rotterdam (NL) and Wilhelmshaven
(D) meets the requirements of the most modern power plant in its kind. On the
one hand because of the precise and careful design achievements in which the
immense diversity of different parts is matched together, and on the other
because the architectural design keeps in consideration the urban context and the
human scale.
The spatial quality of
the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam is determined by large-scale industrial buildings
and a skyline dominated by enormous tanks, hoisting cranes and chimneys. The
main volume of the new power plant will be 110 meters in height, with a chimney
extending to 120 meters. We chose for an expressive blue color scheme in these
facades to give expression to this particular industrial object instead of
letting it fade away in grey.
For Wilhelmshaven
purity symbolizes the white color patterns of the power plant. This purity as
an expression of the modern technical performance of the power plant fits also
well into the wide landscape of Wilhelmshaven. In terms of sustainability we
developed proposals for reduction of light during nighttime (In cooperation
with Har Hollands, lighting architect) and the design of a low-energy (50%
reduction) service building.