Groot Vleeshuis, Ghent
designers:
Coussée & Goris architecten
client:
Economische Raad voor Oost-Vlaanderen
general contractor:
Polymetal (Verrebroek)
location:
Ghent, Groentenmarkt
status:
completed in 2002
A tourist pavilion for local food is housed within the Vleeshuis, a medieval indoor meat market in the historic heart of Ghent. The subtle, rhythmic structure of the pavilion is confronted with the ancient weathered oak beams of its historic surroundings. The 50m long volume appears to float above the floor and strengthens its status as a light and irreversible intervention in the historic Vleeshuis, which is pervaded with a powerful sense of history. The minimal impact of the pavilion immediately strengthens its historical context.
The existing rhythm of the Vleeshuis extends in all directions and forms the basis for the steel rhythm of the pavilion. It was designed as a modular construction system, in which the vertical and horizontal framework is mounted on two steel tracks. The steel frameworks play a double role; the details are just as crucial for the architecture as they are for the structure. The result is a perfect integration of the architecture into the structure.
To achieve the floating character of the pavilion and to deal with problems concerning the foundation of the Vleeshuis, such as various cellars, different floor levels and an archaeological important underground, a structural system was devised on two tracks which span the various obstacles. They span the cellars, set off the different floor levels and protect the archaeological architecture by way of foundation slabs placed at a shallow level. The tracks literally form the foundation of the pavilion for both the structure and the architecture.
The modulation was designed from an architectural point of view with references to the historic architecture. It is used as a structural means to achieve the modular construction system in which this architecture expresses itself.
client:
Economische Raad voor Oost-Vlaanderen
general contractor:
Polymetal (Verrebroek)
location:
Ghent, Groentenmarkt
status:
completed in 2002