Study itc faculty University of Twente

The ITC is a knowledge institution and faculty of the University of Twente. It has an international reputation in the field of geo-information and earth observation. The ITC trains international students to become professionals who can contribute to major challenges such as climate change and poverty reduction in developing countries. The principles we derived for this study, we later applied for the succesful competition for the transformation of the existing ‘Langezijds’ building into the new ITC headquarters.

Our study is centred around connection: between education and research, between building and campus, between nature and technology and between the many different users. The building embodies a new functionalism; the architecture forms a logical answer to the performance that it has to deliver in the future for its students, the campus and the planet.

The design of the building is derived directly from the local orientation and climactic conditions. Functions are placed according to the principle of working and living with the sun. Natural daylighting is therefore optimised while the louvred façade further offers a balance between daylighting and sun protection. Technology and nature are integrated into a regulated ecosystem. With minimal adjustment, the system can sustain itself. The ventilation system (HVAC) is a part of it. The atria support this entirely natural ventilation system; acting as passive buffer zones between inside and outside.

The interior forms a unique three-dimensional landscape. Offices, teaching rooms and labs are clustered around quadruple height interaction spaces where researchers and students exhibit their work. The interaction spaces higher up in the building are entirely dedicated to education and research. Whereas the Social Heart on the ground floor has a more informal atmosphere, where you can eat, drink coffee, meet, work and study. The varied interaction spaces and the Social Heart are all connected to each other through a central atrium which runs through the entire length of the building in a diagonal direction; visually connection all the departments. In this way the dynamic atrium landscape can further stimulate cooperation and innovation.