- Graphisoft

Mastering Precision
Powerhouse Company & De Zwarte Hond
Photo © Rene de Wit
Erasmus University Rotterdam Student Center / Erasmus Paviljoen
Design: Powerhouse Company & De Zwarte Hond
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Area: 1,800 sqm
Year: 2013
Erasmus Pavilion - Powerhouse Company + DeZwarteHond
The new Erasmus University Rotterdam Student Center is located at the heart of a new master plan for the University
area. Designed in combination with De Zwarte Hond, it is set to become a vibrant and central meeting point on
the campus where research meets business and science meets culture. Sustainability, usability, transparency, and
intimacy are the main objectives for the design of the Student Center.
Photo © Christian van der Kooy
“We approached the design with the idea of creating a building that can actively change its façade — not only to
adapt to the weather and the cycle of seasons, but also to allow an adjustable level of intimacy inside, depending
on the events,” said Stefan Prins, associate at Powerhouse Company. “By opening or closing the mechanical
louvers, users can let in as much or as little light as they want. This leads to reduced energy consumption,” he
added.
The curved lines of the louvers that sweep across the four façades are based on the path of the sun and moderate
the amount of natural light and heat according to the sun’s position. The appearance of the building changes
continuously depending on the events inside the building and the weather outside the building. It is animated
by the vibrant rhythm of the Student Center’s life, making it visible from the surrounding public spaces. The
façade and its mechanical aluminum louvers, combined with the wooden interior ceiling, create a dynamic spatial
experience. On a gray, Monday morning in winter, the Student Center can become an intimate, warm indoor
space; on a warm summer Friday evening it can become an open and vibrant space.
Erasmus Pavilion - Powerhouse Company + DeZwarteHond
Study and meeting rooms, Photo © Christian van der Kooy
The transparency of the building is preserved by positioning all “dark space” programs that require an absence of
daylight in the core of the building. This “logistical core” efficiently serves the publicly accessible spaces distributed
around it. On top of this logistical core, a multipurpose auditorium that offers room was placed for lectures,
performances, and debates. This distribution of functions creates high flexibility in use, which was essential for
the feasibility of this project.
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Audtorium, Photo © Christian van der Kooy
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Erasmus Pavilion - Powerhouse Company + DeZwarteHond
“I think one of the main reasons for the success of this project is the
ArchiCAD 3D model, which gave the contractor a great advantage in
being able to deliver this level of precision and quality.”
- Stefan Prins, associate at Powerhouse Company
Various technical measures were implemented to lower the energy impact of the building. A compact building
volume, the positioning of the mass in the center core, a careful orientation of the program toward the sun—
combined with the dynamic façade, the solar panels on the roof, the natural ventilation, and flexible zoning,
transform this transparent building into a low consumption landmark.
With regard to the collaboration method on this project, both Powerhouse Company and De Zwarte Hond use
ArchiCAD so there was no need for IFC exchange. The role of both offices was 50/50 throughout the design and
construction of the project. “We usually set up a specific team with expertise from both offices to fit the needs of
the phase of the project,” Stefan said. “In practice, we worked on one location through a Teamwork project that
architects, designers and project managers had access to. In addition, the Teamwork project was also accessible
from ‘outside the office.’ This way the project was always available for both offices.”
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Verstelbare aluminium lamellen
Geleider voor de verstelbare lamellen
Gevel met driedubbele beglazing glas
Stalen constructie
Gebogen houten plafond, Type Derako Lineair Rood
eiken geschaafd, 60x15 mm, bevestigd op een
gebogen T-profiel
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Aluminium adjustable lamellas
Guide rail for adjustable lamellas
Structural facade with triple glazing glas
Steel support construction
Curved wooden ceiling, type Derako Linear Red oak,
60 x 15 mm, fixed on a curved T-profile
Scale 1:10
Scale 1:10
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Gebogen houten plafond, Type Derako Lineair Rood
eiken geschaafd, 60x15 mm, bevestigd op een
gebogen T-profiel
Sprayplan akoestisch spuitwerk
HPL plaat, diverse kleuren blauw met LED verlichting
Akoestisch stucwerk met randlat 100 mm rood eiken
Stalen vakwerk
Schaal 1:10
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Roof edge detail with custom louver system
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Theatre wall detail with curved wooden structure
Two parts of the building created a design challenge that needed to be solved: the curved, wooden ceiling and
the custom-designed louvered façade. Both were modeled and engineered in full 3D using ArchiCAD. The curved
wooden ceiling was first modeled in CINEMA 4D with a script (to draw all the wooden planks), and was imported
as a smart object using the ArchiCAD-C4D connection plug-in. The 3D ArchiCAD model was also used by the
contractor to engineer the structure for the wooden ceiling. This resulted in an extremely precise construction
and a perfect curve.
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Erasmus Pavilion - Powerhouse Company + DeZwarteHond
The custom-designed louvered façade was drawn in ArchiCAD to develop the minimal tolerances and for redesigning the louver controls. “By working at this level of precision, we discovered all the issues that we needed to
solve and helped us to convince the supplier (Hunter Douglas) that the system worked and that the precision for
this façade was possible,” Stefan said.
Stair to Grand cafe, Photo © Rene de Wit
According to Stefan, a project of this magnitude requires a unique approach. For example, using ArchiCAD 16 with
the CINEMA 4D plug-in to script some elements that they then imported into ArchiCAD. “I think one of the main
reasons for the success of this project is the ArchiCAD 3D model, which gave the contractor a great advantage in
being able to deliver this level of precision and quality.”
About Powerhouse Company
www.powerhouse-company.com
Powerhouse Company was founded by Charles Bessard (1970, France) and Nanne de Ru (1976, the Netherlands).
Bessard and De Ru launched Powerhouse Company as a European firm, simultaneously opening two offices, one
in Copenhagen, Denmark and one in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Powerhouse Company works on commissions that range from furniture design to architecture, planning and
research, in the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Finland, Norway, Russia, Turkey and China. Their first projects
such as Villa 1 and the Spiral house brought Powerhouse Company international acclaim.
The office is currently working on a wide range of projects, from furniture and yacht design, to villas, office buildings
and urban planning, in countries like The Netherlands, Denmark, France, Germany, Turkey, China, Cyprus and
Portugal. Powerhouse Company currently employs about 25 architects and designers in its two offices. Since every
project requires a different output, Powerhouse Company takes special care in organizing the team that produces
the input. Design teams are managed by the two founding partners and often in close collaboration with a wide
range of external consultants and advisors. Founded on a unique model of collaboration, Powerhouse Company
has developed a distinctive attitude towards collaboration with other disciplines as well as other architects.
About De Zwarte Hond
www.dezwartehond.nl
De Zwarte Hond is a design company led by Jeroen de Willigen, Willem Hein Schenk, Eric van Keulen and Jurjen van
der Meer. Based in the Dutch cities of Groningen and Rotterdam and in the German city of Cologne, its 80-strong
staff boast a variety of backgrounds, competences and skills which they use to work in teams on the integrated
design and construction of architecture, urban development and landscape solutions.
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