Blurring Lines

T'Zoet Breda, Europan 17, with Steve Hardy, 2023

Embracing the complexity!

The site of ‘T Zoet is influenced by so many aspects of the history, the heritage of Breda as an industrial city, by the Mark river and all of its tributaries of the form and the remains of the demolition of the old sugar factory… Along the Mark river, close to the HS-train station, and only a few minutes cycling from the city center, its centrality generates an enormous potential to implement the city for the next decades.

We proposed a sustainable, fun and attractive “district-factory“ as a nod to its history. Between past and present, our proposal wants to enhance the heritage of the site. A new life is given for the silos developing a multi-ages and multi-uses program. Werkhuis, Werkterhuis and Kunsthuis reuse industrial typologies adapted to the new way of urban life, production and culture.

The silhouette of ‘T Zoet is not trying to pastiche but is rather collaging previous forms (such as the silos, chimney, halls…) in a new combination and expression.