De Smaragd
For road users on the Hospitaaldreef roundabout, De Smaragd is a striking beacon at the beginning of the tunnel that provides access to the city centre. Indeed, it is the only building with a striking colour scheme. The building's sloping walls guarantee optimal light penetration. The first two floors contain a department store, with eight residential floors above. These residential floors have zigzagging balconies all around, reminiscent of cut facets of a precious stone, de smaragd. Towards the top, the shape changes and the size increases, giving the building a dynamic look.
The colour concept of De Smaragd was developed in ...
For road users on the Hospitaaldreef roundabout, De Smaragd is a striking beacon at the beginning of the tunnel that provides access to the city centre. Indeed, it is the only building with a striking colour scheme. The building's sloping walls guarantee optimal light penetration. The first two floors contain a department store, with eight residential floors above. These residential floors have zigzagging balconies all around, reminiscent of cut facets of a precious stone, de smaragd. Towards the top, the shape changes and the size increases, giving the building a dynamic look.
The colour concept of De Smaragd was developed in collaboration with Swiss artist Adrian Schiess. The orange on the south-west side particularly attracts attention. Besides the striking colours, the cantilevering facades are really special. The residential and retail building is located at the highest point of the curved ground level, including access routes to the 'underworld' of facilities and infrastructure. At the higher car-free shopping area, the reflection of light on the glass walls provides the illusion of a wider street, making the whole look even more impressive. From multiple perspectives, then, De Smaragd is a striking building in the urban landscape.
