The Blox
Vertical neighbourhoods
The Blox, The Hague
From taking wind loads into account to installing prefabricated timber frame facades: our design for this tall tower went hand in hand with challenging but valuable technical lessons. Technical designer Maikel tells us more about The Blox:
New city entrance
Those entering The Hague via the highway A12 will see the raw industrial area of Binckhorst on the left. The area is strategically located in relation to the region and the city center – excellent conditions for a mixed residential and working area. The municipality is transforming the monofunctional area into an urban entrance and a testing ground for sustainability and greening. The Blox gives this new urban entrance its first recognizable face with its stacked blocks and industrial as well as natural appearance.
The inclusive city
In the city, a neighbourhood represents a safe living environment where people coexist, know each other, and where children can play outside. A street, the square, the park, and the shop on the corner give neighbourhoods a unique character. The Blox contributes to this neighbourhood feeling, even at height, with its large mix of housing and vertical neighbourhoods. A variety of housing typologies attracts a mix of target groups and, in combination with collective spaces, results in a piece of an inclusive city.
Vertical neighbourhoods
Not infrequently, a tower forms an anonymous volume: social monotony and a lack of typological variation are a risk. The Blox features a wide range of housing types and sizes, from 47 to 92 m², for the social, middle, and free sectors - accommodating starters, seniors, and families. With a mix of housing types, the division of the volume, and the integration of different outdoor spaces, vertical neighbourhoods are created at height.
Mix of living environments
More than half of the homes are for social rent, a third for middle rent, and the rest for free rent. For each sector, there are small and large homes with a total of twelve different basic types, so that various target groups can find a place that suits their needs. Several collective, green spaces bring the residents together.
Collective green spaces
Collective outdoor spaces will be available in several locations throughout the building, accessible to all residents. This also provides families with a safe play environment for children. The Park Neighbourhood connects the residential tower with the green roof of the parking garage, offering plenty of space for outdoor play and recreation. The Crown is a collective roof park with views of the city and the sea.
Nature-inclusive tower
In The Blox, plants on façades and balconies capture fine dust, combat heat stress with green layers, and create a good habitat quality for flora and fauna. The collective green spaces in the open air provide room for biodiversity and attract birds, insects, and bats. By approaching the building as an ecosystem, biodiversity receives an architectural translation. Green and building merge into a hybrid form that is truly nature-inclusive.
The Hague tower with a Binckhorst feel
Architecturally, the tower connects to the history of the Binckhorst and The Hague's high-rise buildings. An industrial grid of metal profiles, glass, and the color menier red define the façade – inspired by striking buildings in the Binckhorst, such as the Fokker Terminal. The steel boxes are characteristic of the industrial neighbourhood.
The blocks are tailored to wind and sun, creating pleasant spaces for greenery and collective use. The differentiation of the blocks is subtly emphasized by a varying grid of glass, bronze panels, and aluminum panels, alongside the dynamic shifts. Floor-to-ceiling glass gives the apartments a modern living quality. The lower layer distinguishes itself from the tower neighbourhoods in terms of articulation and transparency. The top refers to the recognizable high-rise buildings of The Hague with expressive crowns over multiple floors.
Smart construction
Creating a vibrant residential character at great heights requires a sharp technical approach. This project required smart BIM calculations for wind load, and we introduced prefab façade elements with a wood skeleton contruction inner layer and aluminum finishing. These are gradually being installed using a scaffold-free system. By involving the façade builder early on, these industrially developed elements are demountable and therefore circular. All this makes The Blox for LEVS both a challenging and an innovative BIM project.
Recognition point in the Binckhorst
A neighbourhood supermarket at street level and community facilities on the first floor ensure a truly active base and connect living with urban life. The human scale, attention to meeting and play, optimal sunlight exposure, and good conditions for nature-inclusive building have been leading principles for the spatial structure.
Through the dynamic shifts, the sturdy industrial grid, and the expressive crown, the tower becomes a landmark for the Binckhorst.
Info
The Hague
Google maps