5-tracks

In the railway landscape or 'coulisse' landscape, the main direction is related to the direction of the track. The three buildings consist of five parts between which atriums and the roof landscape create space. This creates 'slices', the coulisses, between which sightlines and walking lines connect the Stationslaan with the railway. The continuous steel rail tracks are part of the coulisse landscape and are visible wherever semi-paving is present.

The rugged railway landscape is translated into a cultivated form in the roof landscape. Beneath the tree groups are large areas with planting, in which grasses, herbs, perennials, and small shrubs define the image. The trees in the roof landscape protrude through the deck and stand with their trunks in the parking garage. These are the specials and act as 'eyecatchers'. Where the trunk protrudes through the deck is a round opening; this is located between the planting and is not visible from the deck.

5TRACKS focuses on both technical and organizational sustainability. The facades are equipped with ceramic brick slips made from recycled building materials. In this way, approximately 385,000 kilos of construction waste material is processed in the facades. The great variety of brick patterns makes maximum use of the possibilities of the brick slips. Furthermore, the central atriums form the lively heart of these buildings. Through the use of high glass facades, a glass roof, and the same facade materials as outside, indoor and outdoor flow into each other. Finally, they connect the street at ground level with the elevated railway garden, creating robust and inviting city rooms that stimulate encounters.

To guarantee the green character of the roof garden, sufficient water is needed for the planting. The retention roof provides this to a large extent. When a long drought occurs, it is possible to provide supplementary watering from the parking garage. The seating elements are a combination of seating comfort and a robust appearance. Solid, untreated European oak was chosen as the material. The edge restraints consist of corten steel strips.

The terraces are located at the transitions from building to roof landscape and strengthen the interaction between building and landscape. The edge restraint is a strip of corten steel as a boundary for the planting beds. Furthermore, the black nuanced clinker contrasts beautifully with the light grey steps and semi-paving of the roof landscape. Color and variation of the planting on the roof landscape provide a more diverse image.