Harbor tower | Yannick Macken

Climatological concept

The climatological concept I chose, was that of the second skin façade. because
it was strongly recommended to include slanting windows in the control room,
I decided to integrate these windows with the overall design of the building by
making sure the second skin consisted only of angled windows. This transparent
volume is interrupted by more closed elements. During winter, the double glazed
façade heats up the air before it reaches the inner climate through openable windows.
During summer, around 50 % of the solar heat is blocked by the glazing.
Air that heats up inbetween the façades can then be ventilated with the outside
climate to prevent it from reaching the room. The more private elements require
direct ventilation. These building components therefore cut through the second
façade and have windows that can be opened directly to the outside climate.

Floor plans

The interplay between open and closed is continued on the inside. Spaces
such as the control room and the cafeteria have panoramic views and receive a
relatively large amount of light while the employee-bedrooms and the toilets and
showers are more intimate.
Simple rectangular rooms togheter with the consistent grid of columns (4.5 meter
centre to centre) define the buildings functional structure.

Form

The highlighted volume on the upper floor and the long element that stretches
from ground floor to the second floor respectively house the radio-maintenance
room and the restrooms. These functions require privacy and therefore have no
need for large windows.The control room is located at the two upper floors and is
surrounded by a large glass-curtain.
The highlited element on the first and ground floor consists of the sleeping
chambers and storage facilities. The closed volume on the first floor houses the
cafetaria kitchen. This floor is also the gathering spot for the workers. The models
at the bottom show the kitchen.
To involve the roof in the overall design, it appears thicker when seen from the
ground floor. This effect is obtained by connecting the radio space to the roof,
and by adding a balustrade which surrounds the roof.
Because of the angled windows used over the entire glass-façade and because
of the contrast between closed and open, the building manifests itself as a unity,
instead of a control room detached from all other functions.