Cultural Centre De Grote Post Ostend

CC De Grote Post Oostende Story by B-architecten, B-bis, B-city & B-juxta

Cultural Centre "De Grote Post" Ostend Story by STRABAG Belgium nv

CC De Grote Post Oostende

• Architects

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To transform the former post office designed by Gaston Eysselinck in 1945 into a cultural institution and to place it into its physical context, we decided to develop an amphitheatre in the centre of the building. The large theatre hall consists of 400 seats and it can be accessed via the post box offices. This brightly lit and acoustically dampening inner courtyard (there is hardly any noise from the surrounding buildings) has become the heart of the main post office of Ostend.

The amphitheatre is surrounded by several exhibition halls, production facilities and rehearsal rooms. It has become a place where all different users of the building converge: art lovers, art performers, office staff and technical staff alike. On the outside we constructed transparent tubes through which the public will be lead to the different multifunctional halls. We created several entrances to the building. All users of the building, the public, artists, administration and technical staff can circulate through the building without losing contact with each other and, at the same time, without disturbing one and other.

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© Christophe Van Couteren

Cultural Centre "De Grote Post" Ostend

• Contractors

The city government of Ostend decided to transform the former post building “De Oude Post” (the old post) into a brand-new cultural centre in the Hendrik Serruyslaan. The reconversion of this partially protected monument is designed by the architect Gaston Eysselinck and has many great architectural qualities. STRABAG Belgium, in joint venture with MBG, was responsible for the renovation and the restoration of the former post building.

The first stage of the project included the restoration of the protected parts of the building. A new construction with 2 equipped theatre halls with 400 and 200 seats was realized in the second stage. Next, the amphitheatre is located above the theatre hall and follows the curves of the theatre’s roof. This amphitheatre functions as the core element of the building and is perceived as an open and public space. A good circulation within the complex is realized using transparent footbridges that will guide the visitors through the polyvalent rooms and the little theatre hall. The protected hall with box offices is transformed into a stunning entrance hall, a foyer and an exposition room. Courses, lectures, rehearsals and workshops will be given in rooms that are scattered over the 4 floors. Furthermore, the former staff restaurant on the 4th floor is transformed into a ballroom with a magnificent view over the Leopold park. The project is a laureate for the Flemish monument price 2013 and won the aluminium cabinet work award 2013.

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Brand description

Industry leaders you can rely on The German construction group STRABAG first came to Belgium in 1965. Since then, STRABAG Belgium has grown to become one of the leading construction companies in Belgium. Its project portfolio spans various domains of construction: industrial and commercial construction, civil engineering, residential construction, renovation and restoration and environmental projects. A class 8 general contractor, STRABAG Belgium draws upon nearly 50 years of experience in the construction industry. It is thanks to our (around 400) skilled and enthusiastic employees that we currently have a yearly turnover of over 200 million euro. This makes STRABAG a respected name in the top 10 of general constructors in Belgium. STRABAG is synonymous with quality and reliability: its integrated management system is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and VCA** certified. Local and international STRABAG Belgium is a 100% subsidiary of the German Ed. Züblin AG (based in Stuttgart) and is part of the European construction group STRABAG SE. The international knowledge and experience of STRABAG/Züblin combined with its local representation makes it possible to realise even the most complex projects. Our motto is: ‘Think global, act local’. The decentralised strategy followed by STRABAG Belgium ensures that our approach stays ‘close to the client’ and that we are able to build long-lasting relationships with subcontractors, clients and partners. This time-efficient and cost-effective way of working has given rise to an ever-expanding network of loyal and satisfied customers. Clients from the public sector (UZ Gent, AG Vespa, Aquafin, ...) as well as from the private sector (Coca Cola, Procter & Gamble, McArthurGlen, ...) keep coming back to our organisation year after year. STRABAG Belgium’s international basis facilitates stable production and technically advanced and innovative solutions while affording us a strong financial standing. Sustainable and responsible Over the past decade, the function of the general building contractor has shifted to that of a client-focused service provider. A strong financial background, sustainable policy, a strong staff policy, innovative construction techniques and technical expertise are the greatest assets of STRABAG Belgium. We have developed a great deal of experience with partnership arrangements such as Public-Private Partnerships and Design & Build projects. Our STRABAG Teamconcept formula, for instance, is specifically developed to realize cost and time saving optimizations for all project partners. Our portfolio reflects the structure of society, with the result that we have broad-ranging experience in the construction of schools, hospitals, residential care centres, offices, industrial sites and designer outlets