Utopia, the Library & Academy for Performing Arts in Aalst (Belgium) is close to completion. The new building blends perfectly into the historic centre of the Flemish city and is in direct dialogue with the architectural grandeur of the neighbouring Pupillenschool. Within the entrance area, concrete and red bricks give life to the new covered plaza, a new public space for the city and its citizens. Utopia will officially open its doors in June 21st, 2018.
We are really happy to share with you the new look of KAAN Architecten’s website which includes a freshly released Videos section. Since its launch, KAAN Architecten has been very interested in visual media as a tool to narrate buildings from a different point of view. Along with “The Learn’d” and “Today”, video-interviews and construction time-lapse videos, a new video project called “Minutes” will be released soon including iconic projects such as the Netherlands Forensic Institute and the Supreme Court of the Netherlands.
KAAN Architecten has published a book about B30, the elegant renovation of an historical building in The Hague, now housing five unique users: the independent planning bureaus (CPB, SCP, PBL), the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) and the Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA).
In line with the needs of a contemporary working environment, the closed hierarchical building has been transformed into an open and inviting one, through a clear spatial configuration and additive design. B30 is now a space for contemporary ideas and research regarding government transparency, and this use is reflected in the new design.
You can have a look to the publication here.
