The proposal to integrate the offices of the administrative building with the bishop's residence in Hasselt offered organizational benefits and resolved several practical issues. The administrative building in the city centre of Hasselt was in urgent need of renovation due to high operating costs and outdated infrastructure.
The bishop's residence, built on the project site in 1968, was well-preserved but not optimally utilized, with a largely unused first floor. By relocating and integrating the offices into the bishop's residence, the building could be used more efficiently and synergy between the functions could be promoted.
Regarding the architecture, the plan is to harmoniously connect the new construction of the administrative building with the bishop's residence. Although the new building will have three floors, compared to the two floors of the residence, the height difference will be partly offset by the slope of the site. This design ensures that the new building will be a subtle yet distinctly recognizable addition to the existing urban environment.
The connection between the new construction and the bishop's residence offers not only practical benefits but also aesthetically complements the existing building. The materials used in the new construction will respect the original elements of the residence, such as the horizontal concrete strips and light gray masonry. By repeating these elements, a sense of continuity and coherence is created.
The plan also takes the spatial context into account. The bishop's residence is located on a corner plot, next to a tall apartment building and the low-rise buildings on Generaal Lemanstraat. The new construction will provide a transition between these different building scales without significantly disrupting the street profile. The green surroundings of the bishop's residence, with its mature trees and hedges, will be preserved and provide a valuable buffer against the city's hustle and bustle.
Sustainability is a core aspect of the design. The use of a geothermal heat pump combined with solar panels will drastically reduce energy consumption and prepare the building for the future. Rainwater management is also thoughtfully considered: rainwater will be reused for various purposes, further reducing the building's ecological footprint.
The redesign of the outdoor space, respecting the existing garden and trees, ensures that the natural beauty of the environment is preserved.
