The LocHal in Tilburg won the award in the category Habitat. The former locomotive shed next to the central station has been transformed into a new, world-class urban living room. The LocHal houses the Midden-Brabant Library, the cultural institutions Kunstloc and Brabant C and the co-working spaces of Seats2meet. The LocHal is a space for both young and old to read, learn, study, meet and gather. It is a place for testing, creating, exhibiting and presenting the latest innovations.
The jury about the LocHal: “Transforming industrial heritage and giving it a new meaning is a delicate task. With LocHal, the clients and designers involved have successfully integrated respect for the existing building with a completely new programme. The well-considered mixture of – sometimes contrasting – untouched artefacts from the old building and new additions and spatiality is impressive. Traditional details, new sightlines and the use of textile architecture, for example, contribute to a surprising and peasant space and ambience. The result is functional, as well as imposing and inviting. Alongside the physical result, the underlying multidisciplinary collaboration has also contributed to the nomination decision. After all, the LocHal provides an inviting perspective to other similar buildings and locations in our country.”
Every year, the Dutch Design Awards (DDA) honors the best Dutch designers and their most impressive and groundbreaking projects. Various disciplines, viewpoints and solutions are judged in light of the impact they have on our society.
The transformation of the LocHal was realised in a close collaboration between the following parties: CIVIC / The Cloud Collective, Architectural Design; Braaksma & Roos Architectenbureau, Restoration; Mecanoo, Interior Design Library, Labs and Offices; Inside Outside - Petra Blaisse in collaboration with the Textiel Museum, Interior Concept and Textiles.