Given the low budget,the design is simple yet still ambitious in terms of achieving a high level of functionality and aesthetics while making a positive contribution to the publicand recreational character of the adjacent canal bank.

By integrating the outdoor storage within the building’s footprint, the latter literally gains in volume, while hiding detracting elements from outside view. Even the fence, which is a requirement from a security perspective, is “shrunk” into the building and merged with the façade. This process is interpreted literally, since the façadeis constructed from a high-performance layered structure finished with steel mesh.

The cross-section is defined by the changing minimum clearance height defined by the functional application of the underlying space. This results in a fluent form culminating in a sculptural edifice at the junction of the two adjacent canals.

By compacting the building’s programme and integrating the outdoor storage facilities into the main volume, space is freed up along the canal banks for recreational use. Moreover, by virtue of its location and appearance, Workhouse De Scheepvaart acts as a catalyst for the further intensification of these public activities.