From the upcoming ECOWEEK in Tilburg Event.
Cubestee, Onix NL
Give us some background on you and your work (studies, past experience, high lights of your career, prizes, etc.).
Onix was founded in 1994 by Haiko Meijer and Alex van de Beld and has realized over 100 projects. After twenty years of cooperation, Haiko Meijer continues independent on behalf of Onix NL. The projects range from urban projects for multifunctional use to single-family homes in the landscape. For example, we have realized private housing, housing projects, schools, offices, public buildings, care facilities, interiors and bridges. Our projects are characterized by innovative constructions, experimental structures and exceptional sensitivity to the practical dimension.
In 2010 we were winner of the Wood Innovation Award with our design of the traffic bridge A7 in Sneek. ( http://onix.nl/portfolio-item/verkeersbrug/ ). In 2010 we were ‘architect of the year’ as well. In 2014 Onix NL won the Wood Oeuvre (/Lifetime achievement) Award and the Architecture Award of Drenthe.
We call our buildings ‘low-tech’, because we believe technology must be in service of the use of a building and not a goal in itself. We aim for a building with an environment as natural as possible, where people are able to influence the indoor climate in which technology could assist.
Cubestee, Onix NL
What attracted you to join ECOWEEK in Tilburg? Have you participated to ECOWEEK design workshops in the past?
We did not participate in the ECOWEEK before, but we have a history in organising ‘hands on’ workshops. We strongly believe one can only get to actual innovation through research and experiment. We are always actively looking for experiments and the ECOWEEK in Tilburg is a great opportunity to develop our knowledge about bio-based design. While creating we are looking for new design possibilities.
What is the theme of your workshop in Tilburg? Who are the members of your team? What are your expectations of the workshop?
Our theme is ‘Mega furniture 013’.
We ask our participants to build a temporary structure out of standard building components: scaffolding boards and pallets. The wooden pallets should be one-to-one reusable. We ask them to build ‘Mega Furniture’, which is furniture and a small building at the same time. It should be an object that can be used to stay in, move through, move underneath and climb over. It’s a space to meet (new) people.
With 013 we are referring to Tilburg. Inspired by the direct environment a station or a train compartment could serve as a reference. The design location is next to the train tracks and the former wagon repair station. Given its prominent location participants should create, above all, a beautiful object that establishes a relationship with the context.
We are curious what the participants will come up with. We are hoping for new, smart ideas to connect the standard building materials to create an attractive structure that invites people to use it. It should add value to the environment, invite people to look at the space differently. The main building material, a wooden pallet, offers in its daily use temporary support for content. In the same way Mega Furniture made of wooden pallets could temporary support the activities of people.
Purpose of the workshop is to learn how to design with standard, reusable materials and to design with re-usability in mind. The participants will be supported by Wouter Stoer, Nina Schouwman and Seline Wijker, architects and architect in training at Onix NL.
Terminal Airport Eelde, Eelde, Drenthe, Onix NL
What is ‘bio-based approach to the design of urban space’ for you? How do you apply it to your workshop in Tilburg?
To us 'bio-based approach to the design of urban space' is designing with reusable and recyclable materials and search for a connection with the context. A building or object should be grounded. Those are exactly the challenges we give to our participants.
Please share link(s) to your work
In general: www.onix.nl
Research: http://onix.nl/lab/
bio-based / sustainable design: http://onix.nl/aard/
In this context maybe also interesting: www.cubestee.nl
Together with a developer Rizoem, we are developing a compact, flexible, sustainable and bio-based home suitable for starters, students, refugees, elderly people and actually everybody who is interested in compact and flexible living.
Concertzaal Muziekschool, Groningen, Groningen, Onix NL