Spreading the news – Mediahuis Hasselt

This project was the first step in the redevelopment of the former Concentra site in Hasselt.
After demolishing the former print infrastructure, the whole site was converted into a contemporary work site and business park.

Masterplan concentra site

eld was commissioned to develop the masterplan for the Concentra site in collaboration with MaMu Architects. The development of this masterplan was concentrated around a park area that seperates the offices from the production buildings. This strip provides a pleasant working atmosphere and, together with the buffer ditches on the ring road, also provides water buffering for the entire site. On the Demer side, space has been left for the additional bicycle connection to the castle park behind.

The master plan provides 5ha of space for the future development of logistical and multifunctional commercial space on one side of the site, and 2ha for more immaterial production and sales-oriented office buildings on Hasselt’s ring road. Buildings along this ring road create an urban façade and share the same architectural language of a solid base with cantilevered volumes above. All subareas will be greened as much as possible. The layer of trees encloses the buildings and structures the space.

Architecture: Mediahuis Hasselt

The new Mediahuis office houses several companies from the Mediahuis group: the editorial office of “Het Belang van Limburg”, in a contemporary and open setting, together with other office and (semi)public spaces. The local TV station ‘TVL’ is also housed in this multifunctional media building. The building is designed as a very open structure, encouraging casual encounters between employees and potential visitors.
eld was responsible for the design and elaboration of the Mediahuis building and for the underground car park (jointly with Carglass).

Within the context of the spatial masterplan, the volumes on Herkenrodesingel have a base of two storeys, and the volumes above them cantilever towards the ring. This volume effect characterises and connects the various buildings, which are further materialised in distinctive ways.
The “Media House” is characterised by the horizontal concrete bands at floor level, with vertical piers in earth-tone brickwork in between, and some deeper vertical windows in dark-coloured aluminium joinery. Above the two layers of the base, 2 storeys cantilever, a 5th storey is a volume enveloping the technical installations.

Interior and a New Way of Working

Mediahuis is an organisation in full transformation. The old headquarters of “Het Belang van Limburg” – Concentra no longer met the requirements of a modern media company, and did not support the new way of working of editorial and general services.

The underground car park is reached by a driveway and contains 2 underground storeys for a total of about 220 spaces.

Inside the building, mezzanines and raised areas create a large spatial effect that accentuates vertical circulation. Via longitudinal axes in the building, people also orient themselves to the different floors. The building is heated and cooled by air-water heat pumps in a 4-pipe system. The large beamless spans were achieved through the use of bubble deck floors.