Bedieningsgebouw, Parkkade 31

English translation

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Description

Complex component 3

Introduction

Northern VENTILATION BUILDING, forming part of the Maastunnel complex, located on the Right Maasoever. The building is virtually identical to the ventilation building on the left Maasoever.

Description

The VENTILATION BUILDING consists of an above-ground part 34.22 m high with three storeys and a roof structure, and an underground part 26.43 m deep, which including the tunnel comprises five storeys. The underground part of the ventilation building was constructed using a pneumatically-founded caisson of reinforced concrete, by means of which a connection between the land tunnel and the river tunnel was also achieved. The caisson contains the pump chamber, the two tunnel tubes for motor traffic, those for pedestrians and cyclists, oxygen measurement apparatus and over the entire length - with a pear-shaped cross-section - the ventilation ducts and the lift shaft. Both parts are built in a reinforced concrete structure. The ventilation building is connected via the ventilation system to the actual tunnel, two adjacent tubes 450 metres long for motor traffic and two smaller tubes one above the other for cycling and pedestrian traffic respectively. The above-ground part has broadly a rectangular ground plan with a basement clad in orange-brown ceramic tiles above a plinth of dark brown. On the east and west sides there are, internally, the entrances, accessible by means of likewise tiled stairs. The entrances are marked by a pillar-shaped projection and a rounded corner. In the rear part of the west and east facades the tiled basement is interrupted by four rectangular windows. The rear facade on the river side has on either side of a large rectangular window two closed, dark green painted, steel loading doors. Above the basement lies a tall expressive, rendered reinforced concrete building volume, of which the central section has a T-shaped ground plan, with sculptural rounded inner corners and projections at the corners on the river side. In this tall ventilation space there are eight pressure fans and six extraction fans with associated drive motors. At the level of the motors there is an all-round steel intermediate platform accessible via a steep staircase. At the end of the platform a simple steel staircase leads to the roof. In the east and west facades, in the slope from the broad to the narrow section, there is a strip of ten rectangular windows. On the north and south sides there are respectively six small porthole windows and one large round window. Above this on the north side a tall disc with folding-out corners and perpendicular to it, on the river side, a lower, entirely copper-clad apse-shaped section which is composed of a construction of spars and grilles, in which the intake mechanism for fresh air is located.

Valuation

Northern VENTILATION BUILDING as a historical-functional component of the Maastunnel complex and together with the access building a defining visual element on the northern Maasoever with counterpart on the southern opposite bank, of general importance on account of great cultural and architectural-historical value, as well as on account of urban design and building-technical innovative value. Within the oeuvre of architect Van der Steur the Maastunnel building occupies an important position.