Fläkt Building

[Luc de Schepper]

The Fläkt building (built in 1973) is a remarkable building featuring three cylindrical cores connected by a triangular core. 

 

The lay-out of the floor plan is extremely efficient, short connections  from stairs and elevators to offices and between office clusters. The 3-flight stairs are placed such that the tenants would be tempted to use stairs rather then the elevators, a strategy that now has become mainstream as to enhance people’s mobility and hence their health. The interplay of shafts, sanitary units, elevators, stairs and fire resistant doors on electromagnets is absolutely brilliant. The facade is clad in 6 mm thick bent aluminum plates, is effectively acting as a solar radiation shield, in combination with relatively small windows – yet providing for a generous panoramic view – reducing the incoming heat drastically. The energy performance of the Fläkt Building was unheard of in 1973. 

 

The Fläkt Building is well on its way to become a modern monument, 6 years to go before it has reached the monumental age of 50, which is the criterium in The Netherlands before a building might be declared a modern monument. The painful side of the story is that the Fläkt Building is no longer in use since years because its  location in a rather desolate industrial area is no longer a desired one, meaning that the building is in real danger of being demolished.

 

Nikon Z6 + Nikkor Z 24-70mm f4 S

 

 

[Dallas]

Very interesting, Luc. Thanks for sharing. 

[Anthony]

Interesting history. When I was working I took the stairs in the office whenever possible in preference to the lift.

[Luc de Schepper]

Thanks Dallas and Anthony for watching and commenting. It is a nice building, with history, and it would be a shame if it's demolished.

[crowecg]

I’d be interested in learning more about this place - can you point me to online sources?  
 

I’ve seen some modern office buildings that include feature stair ways between floors seperate from the main lift lobby particularly when a Tennent takes up a couple of floors.  Is this the sort of features you are referring to?  It is so much nicer than having to use the fire exit stairs hidden behind the lift lobby.