Piushaven harbour pavilion Tilburg

The ‘Piushaven pavilion’ is a public structure located on the central pier in the old city harbour of Tilburg. The building forms a hybrid of a restaurant and a public viewing platform; a unique new public space for the city that also serves as a landmark for recreational boats visiting the city. This distinctive presence adds a much-needed piece of sturdy architecture to the harbour vista.

The central pier in the harbour was built for grain trading in the early 20th century but, has become the focus for public events and leisure activities in more recent times. The pavilion houses restaurant RAK and a public square on the ground floor, encapsulated by a public viewing platform above it; allowing public and private functions to co-exist simultaneously.

This pavilion benefits from the qualities of the pier in various ways. The restaurant is positioned close to the water and offers visitors a beautiful view, while keeping 2/3 of the plot area open for public use. The roof structure also provides for the viewing deck, and acts as a shelter for the rain. As a result, events and leisure activities can take place in various ways.

The design of the iconic pavilion is rooted in the historic harbour and its characteristic atmosphere. Inert black cargo ships and robust bridges form a set of iconic attributes to the harbour park. The straightforward shape, robust structure, matt black façades and the combination of steel and wood are thus magnifications of the site and its surroundings. The shape and details of the structural platform were the result of an integrated design process, where several needs (such as: floor separation, balustrade and sun protection) were combined in one architectural element. The pavilion thus becomes a simple and self-evident iconic part of the public space in the Piushaven Harbour.

The heavy roof edge forms is an engineering solution for the entire structural system. In order to not interfere with the historic timber pier structure below, the structural columns were offset two metres inwards. The cantilever above is therefore made possible by the solid steel periferal structural beams that encase the entire structure and carry the load of the roof deck. Fixed structural joints and the absence of stability walls ensure a free and flexible layout, while the oversized structure allows for high intensity public use of the deck. The structure is the architecture and thus forms a powerful addition to the Piushaven harbour; built to last.