FURNIBO - architeria.eu

FURNIBO
Photographs by: Patrick Despriet, Kris Vandamme

Furnibo is a general contractor, specialized in concrete construction methods. For the construction of the
prefabricated hangar, the open-air storage area and the office building, the client chose to use ‘his own’
materials.

The site is demarcated by a 2.8 m high concrete wall, a prefabricated hangar (built within a limited time span)
and the office building.

The office building is clearly the cornerstone and billboard for the local industrial zone it is located in.
The Furnibo company logo, constructed in weathered steel (cor-ten steel), is attached to the 2.8 m high
concrete wall. The building has views over the surrounding polders and, vice versa, is also highly visible
from the surrounding areas.

The basic concept of the office building – of which both interior and exterior walls were all poured on site
as architectural (visible) concrete – takes full advantage of the potential of Rheo Dynamic Concrete. Design
choices concerning openings, stability and detailing are a direct consequence of the characteristics of the
concrete. The edges of the monolithic building have been given sharp finishes around the square window-
openings, allowing the concrete to radiate a certain lightness. The freestanding concrete stairwell is
surrounded by various secondary functions. Interior and exterior openings stimulate the contact between
the different stories. On the top floor, an exterior void was created within the volume, allowing for a
possible future extension of the office space within the existing envelope.

The striking polished outer silhouette is also a direct result of the self-levelling and self-densifying concrete.
The office building, with a floor plan of 13 by 13 m, reached its final height of 16.5 m in only three 5.5 m
pouring phases.

This project is representative of the use of a specific material and fabrication method. The architecture
benefits from its maximized technical and esthetical qualities. It is a plea for the use of concrete and
at the same time provides an excellent image of the technical capacities of the company.

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> Four-yearly Architecture Award of the Province of West Flanders 2003
> Selected for the exhibition of awarded works
> Award - Building of the year (Trends) - nominee