Back to Matereality

The essence of my graduation project revolves around an exploration of reality's essence and its connection to physical materials within architectural discourse—a pursuit encapsulated by the theme "Back to Matereality." This inquiry delves into how the interplay between the virtual and physical realms in architecture contributes to our understanding of our place in the world and our identity. To navigate this, I structured my design process through a series of experiments focused on renovating the TD-Building, an empty office space in Eindhoven. Each experiment was meticulously assessed for its impact on my personal identity and perception of the TD-Building, illuminating the subjective aspects inherent in the design process.

My proposed outcome challenges the conventional notion of assigning predetermined structures, theories, and functions to architectural creations. Instead, I advocate for an architecture that establishes spatial boundaries conducive to fostering users' understanding. Embracing the temporal and evolving nature of designs is pivotal, shifting focus from designing a static entity to enabling individual appropriation and comprehension of one's immediate living environment. This approach aims to anchor one's evolving identity within their spatial surroundings.

The renovation of the TD-Building results in a design characterized by minimal interventions. The program's requirements were informed by the location's historical context. By elevating the surrounding park around the entrance and parking garage and opening up the lower stories, ample space was created for the park to seamlessly integrate beneath the office building. Additional functional elements—such as an open-air stage, swimming pool, restaurant, skatepark with a DJ-Boot, and an extra routing core—were constructed in timber, fostering a temporary quality while aligning with the grid and appearance of the existing TD-Building. Each floor offers new finishes and flexible rental options per square meter. For further details, the comprehensive report is available in the "Documents" section above.