H30 – H32

Client: Stad Mechelen
Location: Mechelen
Realization: 2008 – 2013
Design team: David Driesen, Tom Verschueren, Valerie Lonnoy, Katrien Geerinckx
Structural engineer: Util struktuurstudies
Engineer Techniques: Studie 10 (HVAC & sanitair), Vitech (elektriciteit)
Photography: Frederik Vercruysse
Size: 1050 m²


H30, socio-cultural workplace for young people, has an old school site as its base in the middle of a building block. The classrooms are used as ateliers and rehearsal rooms, outdoor activities are organized on the former playground. The site is accessed through a narrow gate of a vacant house. The cultural center therefore didn’t have any connection with the city.

The urban concept includes the demolition of the 17th century house and a new building with offices at the street side (H32). A covered inner street, which can be used as a gallery, reception room or foyer, connects the culture center with the street. When the glass folding wall is open, every passenger is welcome. The inner street encourages the public to explore the inner area and makes the back of the site accessible on an urban level.

The flat roof on the first floor connects the front and back building, designed as green landscape dotted with round skylights. The school building below accommodates a number of studios, an artist’s lounge, a rehearsal space and a public attic. Small-scale adjustments were made to meet the technical sound requirements of the radio studios and theater auditorium. To manage the new visitor flow, new circulation cores were implemented in the building.

The concept of the facades is a reflection of the activity of the cultural center that wants to keep the barrier as low as possible through participation and involvement. The facades of the cultural center are designed and composed by the artists of H30 and are made of different strips in plexiglass.

The project originated from an architectural competition with a budget of 1,6 million euros. During the construction of the project the building became a participative process and the budget was cut to 950.000 euros. The participation of the process led to artistic young people getting involved.

The city council also decided during the construction process to expand the project with an adjacent building (Hanswijkstraat 32). This resulted in changes to the construction dossier in order to connect both the buildings. This was realized with a minimal extra cost.

The flat roof on the first floor connects the front and back building, designed as green landscape dotted with round skylights. The school building below accommodates a number of studios, an artist’s lounge, a rehearsal space and a public attic. Small-scale adjustments were made to meet the technical sound requirements of the radio studios and theater auditorium. To manage the new visitor flow, new circulation cores were implemented in the building.

The concept of the facades is a reflection of the activity of the cultural center that wants to keep the barrier as low as possible through participation and involvement. The facades of the cultural center are designed and composed by the artists of H30 and are made of different strips in plexiglass.

The project originated from an architectural competition with a budget of 1,6 million euros. During the construction of the project the building became a participative process and the budget was cut to 950.000 euros. The participation of the process led to artistic young people getting involved.

The city council also decided during the construction process to expand the project with an adjacent building (Hanswijkstraat 32). This resulted in changes to the construction dossier in order to connect both the buildings. This was realized with a minimal extra cost.