LocHal Library | Mecanoo

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LocHal Library  | Mecanoo

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  • Project Name: LocHal Library
  • Practice: Mecanoo
  • Products: Jansen , Mombarg , Breedveld Paneelwanden , Facadis Gevelbouw , Gieskes , JetBik , Jonkers , Klein Poelhuis , Staalbouw ter Huurne , Vitriwand
  • Completion year: 2018
  • Gross Built up Area: 7000 sqm
  • Project Location: Tilburg
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Clients: Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant and Kunstloc Brabant
  • Structural Consultants: Arup
  • Landscape Consultants: Donkergroen
  • Contractors: Binx Smartility
  • Project Manager: Stevens van Dijck Bouwmanagers & Adviseurs
  • Interior + Furniture: Mecanoo architecten
  • Photo Credits: Ossip Architectuurfotografie
  • Others: Architectural Design: CIVIC architects, Restoration Architect: Braaksma & Roos architecten bureau, Interior Concepts & Textiles: Inside Outside i.s.m.Textiel Museum
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Excerpt:The LocHal is an adaptive re-use project by architectural firm, Mecanoo. It is a place for testing, creating, exhibiting and presenting the latest innovations. The LocHal is not only a library but also a laboratory where you are challenged, gain new knowledge, and learn about innovations. These specially designed labs can be found throughout the building. The laboratory consists of Digilab, Workshop rooms, GameLab. The textile walls designed by Inside Outside, inspired by Tilburg as a textile city, create intimate spaces in this large hall. When these hanging textiles are drawn together, the space can accommodate large-scale events.

Project Description

[Text as submitted by Architect] The Lochal, an old locomotive hall dating from 1932, is located next to the station of Tilburg and houses the Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant, Kunstloc Brabant, Brabant C and Seats2Meet*. Everyone is welcome in the new living room of Tilburg, world-class space for both young and old to read, learn and study, meet and gather. It is a place for testing, creating, exhibiting, and presenting the latest innovations. 

* Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant (public library), Kunstloc Brabant (a regional knowledge and expertise center for culture and art), Brabant C (a regional investment fund for culture and the creative industry), and Seats2Meet (co-working spaces)

LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie
LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie

History

Tilburg is not only known for its worksites of the Dutch National Railways but also for its textile industry and the Efteling, the nearby popular fairytale theme park. This history is made tangible in Mecanoo’s interior design. Characteristic historical elements form an exciting combination with new oak and steel additions, and a warm color palette of reds and oranges. The interior is varied, playful, and innovative. There is a diversity of atmospheres for a meeting, collaboration, and concentrated work.

LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie

City café with reading and exhibition space 

The eye-catcher is the city café featuring a bar with red, brown, and gold ceramic tiles and a neon LocHal logo on top. It can easily be spotted from passing trains. The old tracks are visible on the concrete floor. They are used to move three large wheeled “train” tables. For example, a single table can become the extension of the bar; when placed together, the tables form a stage or catwalk with the stairs as a tribune. They can even be moved outside along the tracks to form a stage for events on the square. Next to this city café is the reading room with magazines, and next to that is the Kunstloc exhibition space. It is right in the corner, clearly visible from the outside. The textile walls designed by Inside Outside, inspired by Tilburg as a textile city, create intimate spaces in this large hall. When these hanging textiles are drawn together, the space can accommodate large-scale events.

LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie

Interior street

Crossing the building is an interior street lined with historic industrial columns on which the old layers of paint are still visible. By fitting the columns with wooden tables and lighting, they are given a new lease of life as places for reading and studying. The street is flanked by bookcases. There are also low mobile display units where books are presented invitingly, as in a bookshop. In this book street, books are also checked in and out. The bookcase wall on the office side has transparent display cases for works of art and unique books. This wall also gives staff the right balance between privacy and connection with the library.

LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie

Children’s library with Efteling atmosphere

The Efteling theme park is the source of inspiration for the children’s library. Bookcases take on the form of colored pencils or rulers. You can walk through the giant fairytale books, and look for a book or play. The little ones can read a book at tables shaped like mobile phones, or listen to storytelling sessions while lying on an open book. Even the sitting poufs have playful letters in the form of fairytale animals.

LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie

Stair landscape

The stair landscape that Civic designed for the monumental LocHal takes you to the upper floors. Parts of the stairs are made of oak. With the flexible wooden seating elements, everyone can design their own space. For instance, you can ‘build’ a meeting place or a quiet place to work undisturbed.

LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie

Library as laboratory

The LocHal is not only a library but also a laboratory where you are challenged, gain new knowledge, and learn about innovations. These specially designed labs can be found throughout the building. The laboratory consists of Digilab, Workshop rooms, GameLab.

LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie

Offices

The Library, Kunstloc, and Brabant C share the office area, which offers a wide range of workplaces. There are open office spaces, ‘touchdown’ places for short tasks, places for collaboration, meeting places, and a coffee corner. A wall of oak bookcases separates the office area from the interior street. Lockers are interspersed with transparent display cases, forming a playful composition. On the south side, there are tall steel cabinets that define work and meeting places.

A lowered working pit, where oil was once collected, has been transformed into an orange furniture element. This element includes a mezzanine level with places for concentrated work and a view of the outside. The playfully staggered stairs serve as an informal workplace and lead to the lowered working pit. The stairs also double as seating for staff lectures and presentations, with the working pit as a lowered stage.

LocHal Library | Mecanoo
© Ossip Architectuurfotografie

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