The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) has appointed engineer Paul Diederen as Professor of Transformational Design. He will take up his post at the Unit Architectural Urban Design & Engineering of the Department of Built Environment as of the 1st of June 2016. Paul Diederen specialises in the transformation of existing property. The appointment as professor is for two days a week. He will also continue working as a partner in diederendirrix architecture and urban design in Eindhoven and Rotterdam.

Prof. E.S.M. (Elphi) Nelissen (Dean of the Department of Built Environment): “Because of his years of experience as an architect, Paul Diederen is right at the heart of real-life practice. As a Professor of Transformational Design, he will be dealing with the relationship between current design practice and education. More specifically, he will focus on
re-evaluation of buildings’ usability in cities after World War II.”

Sustainable improvement of the city
Postwar cities do not always have an obvious historical value, like buildings from earlier dates do. As 69% of the buildings in the cities was erected after 1944 – the peak between 1971 and 2000 – it is urgently needed to focus on exactly these relatively young buildings.

Economic and social changes leave many buildings empty or call for a different purpose for buildings. With programmed adjustments, architectural improvements and good urban development foundations, the city can be carefully and sustainably improved. Collaboration with the market and the public sector is vital. This calls for a different way of teaching and doing research.

Paul Diederen: ”When transforming the existing city, feasibility – and not manipulability – is essential and with that, knowledge of the context, the program, the process and the revenue models of the client and user. I look forward to handing on this knowledge and expertise to a new generation of architects.”

Read the press release: Paul Diederen appointed professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology

 

As from May, the renovation work of the Groene Toren in Eindhoven will be visible on the outside. The striking building on the Vestdijk is converted into half hotel, half apartments. The façade on the Dommelstraat gets a new, large digital screen which extends from top to bottom. A third party will display Eindhoven promotion and advertising on this screen. Currently, the property is being emptied inside. The renovation will convert the former office building into a hotel with 132 rooms and 100 apartments.

Read the article in the Eindhovens Dagblad

Construction of the second floor of Blocks 61 and 63 along the tracks at Strijp-S in Eindhoven has just begun. However, there is such great interest in these dwellings that developer SDK Real Estate (Stam en de Koning) continues while at it. The daughter company of Volker Wessels hopes to begin the construction of Block 59 – between the blocks under construction and the parking garage on the Philitelaan – around the construction industry summer holidays. The details are still being discussed with the Design & Monuments Advisory Committee of the Eindhoven planning authority, which must approve the design of Timo Keulen (diederendirrix). Thereafter, the license can be granted.

Read the article in the Eindhoven Dagblad

In April 2016, diederendirrix architecture and urban design opens a second office in Rotterdam. Setting up the new office is a natural step owing to the firm’s growth and the increasing number of projects in the western part of the country.

Investing in the organisation is important in order to properly respond to the growing market and the changing needs of commercial parties and governments. diederendirrix has grown strongly in recent years and has a solid economic foundation. This offers opportunities to invest in a stable future for the company. For diederendirrix, the second location is a base for developing new activities and to broaden the firm’s portfolio.

“In recent years we have seen an increase in the number of projects. To reinforce this upward trend, we now choose to open a second office in Rotterdam. We consider this a great opportunity to not only add fresh energy and dynamism to our firm, but to also go more into depth with themes that are important to us.“
Bert Dirrix (architect / partner)

 “The metropolitan region of Rotterdam-The Hague will face some challenging tasks in the coming years. Given our experience in transforming existing buildings and former industrial areas, our knowledge of social property and our broad portfolio of house-building, we see plenty of opportunities to contribute to the sustainable development of Rotterdam and the region.“
Paul Diederen (architect / partner)

Tomas Dirrix and Theo Hauben manage the new office in Rotterdam. The focus is on research and development within the firm’s main themes, such as transformation, housing and education. The office is located in the renovated Shell Tower on the Hofplein in the heart of Rotterdam, near Central Station. You are more than welcome to visit us. Please call Tomas (+31 628 747450), Theo (+31 624 546811) or the main number to make an appointment.

Read the press release

Today, architect Paul Diederen gave the members of Business Club Oranje-Rood a tour of their new clubhouse. The construction of the clubhouse will be completed in June 2016.

The triangular building with rounded corners is located on an open spot between the hockey fields and accommodates a canteen and changing rooms. The large canopy made of laminated wooden joists in a triangular grid is striking. The structure extends from the outside into the inside and creates a special interior.

In Eindhoven everyone actually agreed:  the vacant former Philips Lighting office on the Mathildelaan – built in 1973 – was an ugly building. With a redecoration and new champagne-colored aluminum window frames diederendirrix managed to transform it into a treasure for the city. How do you transform a giant of an office building of 40,000 square meters, surrounded by parking lots and freestanding buildings, into a vital part of town with 616 lofts? “First we completely stripped the building,” architect Paul Diederen of diederendirrix architects says. Commissioned by Foolen & Reijs Real Estate, the Eindhoven-based architect firm transformed the office into a residential building for single households, young starters or expatriates.

Read the article in the Cobouwspecials

diederendirrix will transform the Technical Services (TD) building in Eindhoven into a residential building. The firm, together with developer Foolen&Reijs, was selected after a three-year tender. About two hundred apartments will be constructed in the building of 15,000 square meters.

According to the plan of Foolen & Reijs and diederendirrix, the TD building will be stripped to its carcass and then equipped with slanting balconies all round. The plinth will feature a supermarket, sauna and gym (the exact details have yet to be determined). There will also be a roof terrace with city views and possibly a vegetable garden.

Read the article on Architectenweb