Louise Marie
Next to Antwerp’s Singel, on the site of the former Louise-Marie children’s hospital, now stands a new 14-story eye-catcher. Project Louise Marie consists of 207 flats spread across two buildings, which are connected by a large glass acoustic screen.
New landmark
Louise Marie can safely be named the new landmark of the Antwerp skyline. The two residential towers are already imposing, something the glass screen connecting the two buildings only enhances. The screen is no less than 47 metres high and 22 metres wide and will create an acoustic microclimate in the residents’ communal courtyard garden.
Vorsselmans engineered and carried out the entire project, including the glass screen, which presented a specific challenge in terms of thermal effects. The residents have a magnificent view of Antwerp from their flat. The impressive glass wall lets in a lot of light and creates an oasis of calm in the courtyard.
A sound barrier, not a piece of cake
The buildings are less subject to thermal action because of insulation; they have a relatively constant temperature of 20 °C. The columns and the upper beam are not insulated and are therefore subject to temperature fluctuations: they shrink in winter and expand in summer. The specific challenge was to match the thermal action of the screen’s concrete structure with that of the two buildings, both vertically and horizontally. To this end, we designed an extrusion profile to accommodate all possible settlements.
We love challenges, that is certain. We are glad we could do our bit to achieve this!
#proudofwhatwedo
Questions? We are happy to help!
Do you have any questions or would you like to visit our showroom? We are happy to help! Please make an appointment by calling the number below or by filling in the contact form.
