The Eindhoven railway zone is in full development. With a mix of living, working and meeting people, an internationally oriented center will be built here in the coming years. The Dutch Mountains are one of the first projects to be realized here at a central location on the river valley of the Dommel. Two towers with offices, houses and a hotel come together in a collective winter garden. The sculptural building always looks different from different viewpoints and "moves with" the passer-by via the railway or via Professor Dorgelolaan. Much of the building will be constructed in cross-layer glued wood (CLT) harvested from sustainably managed forests.
2021
preliminary design
programme
living, hotel, shortstay, conference, leisure
team
in cooperation with
Arup
Lingotto
Urban Xchange
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Lingotto
Urban Xchange
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Metropolitan Region
The metropolitan region around Eindhoven is growing the fastest of all regions in the Netherlands, thanks to the high-tech industry. To accommodate this growth, the center is being expanded on the north side of the station with a new district. This new urban area will eventually house and employ 15,000 people.
The Dutch Mountains will be built at the intersection of the Dommel Valley and the railway, a central location in this new district. This location connects the city center of Eindhoven with the campus of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). The Dutch Mountains will offer a vibrant, diverse, and public program and striking architecture, forming a link between the different parts of the city.
The Dutch Mountains will be built at the intersection of the Dommel Valley and the railway, a central location in this new district. This location connects the city center of Eindhoven with the campus of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). The Dutch Mountains will offer a vibrant, diverse, and public program and striking architecture, forming a link between the different parts of the city.
Dommel Valley
The main entrance of The Dutch Mountains is located directly at Dommel Park. This is a continuous green area between the high-tech clusters of Brainport Eindhoven, connecting the urban area with the surrounding landscape. It offers numerous recreational and sports opportunities.
The Dutch Mountains are easily accessible by public transport. It sits just a stone's throw from Eindhoven Central Station and several bus stations. The city center of Eindhoven is easily reachable by bike and on foot through the tunnel under the railway. Additionally, the building will serve as a hub for shared mobility and electric transport and is also conveniently accessible by car.
The Dutch Mountains are easily accessible by public transport. It sits just a stone's throw from Eindhoven Central Station and several bus stations. The city center of Eindhoven is easily reachable by bike and on foot through the tunnel under the railway. Additionally, the building will serve as a hub for shared mobility and electric transport and is also conveniently accessible by car.
A Beacon
The two towers of The Dutch Mountains are visible from a large part of Eindhoven and beyond. The building has a sculptural form that is recognizable from a great distance and functions as a beacon. It appears different from various viewpoints. The two rectangular towers each have a broader and a narrower side and differ in height; approximately 130 meters on the Prof. Dorgelolaan side and around 100 meters on the railway side.
The sculptural form is created by smoothly connecting the two towers; facade becomes roof and roof becomes facade. As a result, the towers are inextricably linked. The elegant lines of the facade transition into the "voile": a roof structure made of laminated wooden beams that gives the building finesse and character, and is visible from the central living room.
The sculptural form is created by smoothly connecting the two towers; facade becomes roof and roof becomes facade. As a result, the towers are inextricably linked. The elegant lines of the facade transition into the "voile": a roof structure made of laminated wooden beams that gives the building finesse and character, and is visible from the central living room.
Meeting Spaces
The lower three floors of The Dutch Mountains are dedicated to meeting spaces. This part of the building includes restaurants, sports facilities, shops, meeting rooms, exhibition spaces, and a large conference hall. This green, inviting living room connects the various program elements with each other and the surrounding area. A wide staircase with seating areas and plants leads from the ground floor to the conference center and restaurant on the first floor.
The offices and workspaces on the fourth and higher floors open onto large terraces overlooking the central living room. The terraces are connected by stairs to each other and to the ground floor, thus also linking to the Dommel Park. Users are encouraged to take this scenic, mountainous route through the building, bypassing the elevator. This makes the living room a vibrant space for meeting and discovery.
The northeastern tower will house residences, with more than half in the mid-range segment. The southwestern tower will feature a hotel and short-stay apartments. At the top of this tower, there will be a rooftop bar offering 360-degree views of the Eindhoven area.
The northeastern tower will house residences, with more than half in the mid-range segment. The southwestern tower will feature a hotel and short-stay apartments. At the top of this tower, there will be a rooftop bar offering 360-degree views of the Eindhoven area.
Hybrid Biobased Construction
A significant portion of the construction utilizes solid cross-laminated timber (CLT) sourced from sustainably managed forests. Since wood stores CO2 during its growth, it helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Additionally, reducing the use of concrete and steel prevents the CO2 emissions associated with these materials. Much of the building will be prefabricated in a factory and assembled on-site in a short period.
The wood will be particularly visible on the underside of floors, columns, and the roof structure. This material imparts a tactile quality to the building and enhances the indoor climate. The wooden ceilings in the offices and residences will be real eye-catchers.
However, not all parts of the building are suitable for construction with wood or other biobased materials. The structural components that bear heavy loads (e.g., elevator cores) will be made of concrete. To reduce sound transmission, the upper surfaces of the floors in the residential areas will also be made of concrete.
However, not all parts of the building are suitable for construction with wood or other biobased materials. The structural components that bear heavy loads (e.g., elevator cores) will be made of concrete. To reduce sound transmission, the upper surfaces of the floors in the residential areas will also be made of concrete.
Climate
To manage the indoor climate of The Dutch Mountains, natural principles are utilized as much as possible. Rainwater that falls on the roofs is collected within the building. Through an irrigation system visible in the living room (a babbling artificial stream of open gutters and small waterfalls), the water reaches the "valley" of the building, where it is used for irrigating the plants. Heating and cooling are sourced from an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system. The south and west facades are equipped with solar panels in a color scheme that matches the rest of the facade.
