The former student union building of Eindhoven University of Technology was built in 1969 in the Brutalist style, designed by Huig Maaskant, one of the most renowned Dutch architects of the 20th century. The building quickly developed into an important social center for students and soon became known as “De Bunker” because of its architecture. Thus, the structure combines significant architectural historical value with special social and cultural relevance.
To save the aging building from demolition, Eindhoven University of Technology held a competition in 2016, which was won by the office Powerhouse Company. According to their winning design, the dilapidated concrete structure was carefully refurbished with sustainability in mind and complemented by a new residential tower providing 210 spacious rental and owner-occupied apartments. The construction of the tower not only created much-needed housing but also financed the elaborate restoration of the existing building.
The new high-rise echoes the sloping exterior walls and horizontal lines of “De Bunker’s” facade, as well as its color scheme, thus transforming the architectural language of the original structure into bold verticality. On the lower floors, solid bands of natural stone dominate the façade, which open up to allow for larger glass surfaces as the building rises. Simultaneously, the asymmetrical, slightly stepped volume of the tower tapers the higher it gets in analogy to the existing structure. The materials used in the high-rise, such as wood and glass, also reference Huig Maaskant’s design. The natural stone used resembles concrete, further enhancing the ensemble effect of the new and existing buildings.
Following its transformation into a podium building, the former student union building (where Powerhouse Company founder Nanne de Ru also spent time as a student) now houses high-quality office spaces and a public restaurant, thus reviving one of the original social uses of the former student union building. Additionally, the underground parking garage built during the construction of the residential tower enabled the conversion of the adjacent parking lot into a public park that extends Eindhoven’s northern green corridor called “de Karpen.” The architectural language of the ensemble was also applied to the pathways, planting areas and seating in the design of the open spaces.
