Dorshout Driehoek

sketch

Y-Splits

The location, at Dorshout, is part of the old hamlet of Dors(t)hout. Old maps show a structure with branches in the shape of a tree, heading northwest. These characteristic Y-splits are common in the Brabant landscape, where a herdgang (common grazing area) developed. These places often originated from a common meadow for livestock, known as a ‘dries’ or ‘meent’. Tilburg is a well-known example where such herdgangs are still clearly visible in the towns structure. Here too, the landscape with its Y-splits and triangular structures is still clearly visible.

The location lies at the boundary of three different worlds: industry, city, and landscape. This raises questions that lead to important design considerations:

– How clear is the boundary between industry and the romantic countryside?

– Where does this plot exactly belong?

– Does the one-sided romantic view of the landscape do justice to the complex urban situation?

– Should the scale differences created by industrial development be softened?

– How can these worlds better coexist in harmony?

– Can the new building contribute to a subtle transition between these different worlds?

Triangular Form

The street patterns in the floodplain of the Aa River are the oldest lines in the landscape, older than the current plots and buildings. Even the main access roads in the industrial area follow old lines. The location at Dorshout is part of the old hamlet of Dors(t)hout, with its characteristic Y-splits and triangles in the landscape structure, still clearly visible on maps.

The triangular form is historically essential to this place and thus serves as the key spatial starting point for the design. The building defines space in its context through its triangular shape. As part of the triangle, a framed green space emerges. At the same time, the building’s volume takes a clear position within the industrial area, helping to bridge the scale difference between the industrial site and the farm-like buildings. This creates a clear identity that embodies apparent contradictions in its clear form.

The triangular form transforms into a mass with two connected roofs. The “farmhouse” (the residential building) and the “barn” (the industrial hall) are merged into a triangular sculptural form. This mass presents itself differently from various approaches. This makes the building dynamic and ensures it responds well to the various viewpoints and the contrast between landscape and industry.