Interview Bart Lens, Lensºass architecten The Court of ... - Limeparts

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01 Bart Lens Story of the concept 02-03 Court of Justice Hasselt J. Mayer 04-05 Inside and outside Transparency 06-07 Limeparts Corten Aluzinc 08-12 Project in the picture: Court of Justice, Hasselt, Belgium Client: Stationsomgeving NV Hasselt Architects: J. Mayer H. Architects Lensºass architecten a2o-architecten International Competition 2005: 1st Prize Editor Magazine: Geert Michels, BU director Sales & Marketing Limeparts Interview Bart Lens: Kurt Meers Photography: Philippe van Gelooven Design: Studio Segers Print: Drukkerij Haletra No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or any manner, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from the publisher. LIMEPARTS MAGAZINE # 01 I 2012
CONCEPT 02 I 03 Court of Justice, Hasselt, Belgium The TT-Towers no longer stand alone on the skyline of Hasselt. From all directions, as one drives into the city, the new courthouse is immediately visible. Architect Bart Lens of Lens°Ass Architects was one of the taste-makers in designing this prestigious project, a stone’s throw from the station. We were anxious to hear his story: When the assignment was issued in 1996, we had very little information, Bart Lens recalls. The project was described as a ‘polyvalent building’ with an icon value for Hasselt. It was only conjecture that it was to be a new courthouse. It was definitely clear that it would be a major project in our own back garden. Thus, it was only logical for us to try our luck in the competition. For this a strong team had to be selected. How did it come about? First of all, the size of the project made co-operation with other architects essential. For this we chose a partnership with our colleagues from A2O in Hasselt since we considered the two agencies to be complementary. This team was a good basis for meeting the challenge of this assignment. Beyond that, we wanted to have an international reference involved so we could integrate an unprejudiced view from outside Hasselt. I knew the German architect, Jurgen Mayer, as someone who likes to work with iconic images and who likes digital architecture. Thus we invited him to Hasselt for a few workshops, and when that clicked, we went into the fray together. How do you begin with such a vague assignment? je aan zo’n vage opdracht? We used the Hasselt coat of arms with its hazelnut tree as a starting point. The double tree symbolises a forest of hazel trees. It is also an old tradition to administer justice under a tree. This is still done by some aboriginals. With these data we began to conduct experimental exercises. You do research, get impulses, and use your intuition. We made 98 maquettes of two trees, most of which used a type of intertwined steel. That was Mayer’s concept of Belgium. We also briefly considered a complete finishing in wood. But steel had many more possibilities for creating a sense of transparency, which is essential for a modern courthouse. In the end, the idea behind our design and the confidence in the team of architects, were decisive in the assignment being given to us. Then the real work could begin … Yes, indeed. The design selected by the jury was worked out in minute detail. On the computer, Jurgen Mayer had immediately drawn the entire exterior façade in perforated steel. After investigating a few other options, we returned to this. Considering the various advantages and disadvantages, among others relative to obscuration, sunlight shielding, transparency, maintenance, attachment points, repetitive possibilities and cost price, this was the best solution. We then started searching for a supplier who could implement our design technically. Thus, Limeparts appeared on the scene. They could perforate the metal of the screens in such a way that it would look like the veins of a leaf, a ‘wave’, with which we could create the entire organic structure. For this, we only had to have two patrons come in each time. And also with regard to the other variables, such as the depth that could be created in this way, this provided the best solution for our requirements. So we decided to work with Limeparts, expert in measure made solutions for façade claddings. There was much more behind this choice than simply designing a façade that would look good in booklets. We had countless meetings with the technical specialists of the Genk company. Every little screw had to pass in review. Was it possible within the team for application of a specific ‘Lens-touch’? Yes, certainly, although everything was done in close consultation within the team. I was leading the idea of including real wood in the exterior walls, and then extending those materials, together with the façade symbolism, to the interior. The wooden benches, for example, look like wooden branches that have fallen into the building. We sometimes had to really fight to add accents that brought harmony to the whole. But the result is beautiful, when seeing the autumn colours of the interior and the motif of leaves in the material for the chairs. The floors remind one of a forest floor and perforated veins of leaves are also seen in the ceilings of the lifts. At the same time, the building also had to retain its abstraction and be modern. I think we successfully accomplished this. Were you anxious about how the people of Hasselt would react? We knew there would be advocates and opponents. So that was not a problem for us. We were especially concerned about the opinion of the man in the street about the modern atmosphere that the building radiates. But that turned out well. We hear that local people call our project ‘The Hazel Tree’ in everyday speech. When public buildings are given a nickname, that is an early indication of acceptance. That our creation does not call up negative emotions is a good sign. The appreciation will no doubt increase when a second tower appears beside it, and the site around the courthouse is developed further. We are also getting very positive feedback from other countries. Especially from collegue-architects, who did not believe that this building is built for the projected price. We are of course proud to have realised this in our own city. We had the privilege of growing up in Hasselt, and this enables us to make a small contribution to the city’s increasingly modern image. In addition, it was also nice to be able to go to the site by bicycle! Bart Lens
Seite 1: Limeparts Magazine January 2012 Int
Seite 5: 06 I 07 The design of the courthous
Seite 8: 12 De alleenheerschappij van de TT-

Interview Bart Lens, Lensºass architecten The Court of ... - Limeparts

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