Design, sustainability and integration into the circular economy are all essential aspects of these buildings. Almost all the depots are visible from the motorway, making them “visiting cards” for the Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management. The design of the roof was one of the outstanding features. In the case of the Houten depot, the waterproof exterior layer of the roof consists of 1,600 solar panels. Everyone benefits – people living near the depot are co-owners of the panels and the owner (Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management) owns 72 of them, which easily provide enough electricity for its own purposes. The Houten depot is an excellent example of “turning back the meter” – it produces more power than it consumes!

Reliable, rapid and safe

Movares’ studioSK produced the concept for the motorway salting depots that the Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management operates. The depots also act as bases for the highways operator, but in terms of area, salting is their most important function, and it is essential to get the motorways salted quickly, reliably and safely. The logistics systems and the layout of the buildings themselves are based on logistics simulations and users’ experience. This ensured soundly-based design choices, made in cooperation with an integrated, multi-disciplinary design team.

Sustainability

The depots were designed using agile methodology. Particular attention was paid to working conditions and the choice of materials, in view of the high concentration of salt on these sites. During the design process, specialists in the fields of civil engineering, installations and architecture shared a well-equipped design workshop. The result was an optimal design, produced within budget. The design methodology and the materials chosen resulted in a modular design and a Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB). The modular design made it possible to prefabricate the entire building, reducing the amount of work required on site. The depots consist of sustainable materials, such as timber trusses and recyclable concrete, and include rainwater collection and re-utilization facilities.

Period2018 - 2018
ArchitectStudioSK (part of Movares consultants & engineers)