Dutch architecture office UNStudio is renovating and expanding the Elysion Congress Centre in Eindhoven by adding a cantilevered auditorium and vertical gardens.
Along with expanding the original floorplan, the practice will add a wood-and-steel auditorium with a capacity of 1,500 as well as a foyer and catering spaces to the congress centre in Eindhoven's technology region, Brainport.
The auditorium will cantilever over the existing buildings, so the original hotel and conference facilities can remain in operation.
UNStudio said the foyer would feature a wooden staircase and "vertical green gardens". The practice plans to integrate technological innovations into the project to improve the centre's sustainability.
"The facade of the congress centre is principally made from wood and glass," explained UNStudio.
"The ambition is to couple this with nitrogen-dioxide absorbing surfaces – an innovative new nano-technology that can capture pollutants from its surroundings."
The studio is working on a research project into applying nanotechnologies to construction materials such as concrete and paint.
Nitrogen dioxide is released by cars and the burning of fossil fuels, and can be harmful to human health.
In addition, UNStudio will look at greener transport options as part of the Elysion Congress Centre expansion, adding more electric car charging ports along with bicycle parking space.
UNStudio will also build a tower with hotel and leisure facilities to host international guests.
The practice won a competition to redesign the conference centre as part of a project to increase the Brainport region's international appeal.
"Brainport Eindhoven is currently one of the leading innovative technology regions in Europe," said UNStudio.
"To enhance its international positioning as an inspiring region of technology, design and knowledge, the Dutch city of Eindhoven has the ambition to realise a clearly identifiable, new, state of the art congress and conference centre."
The project, which is expected to complete in 2025, is part of a €7 million programme to invest in Brainport.
Dutch multinational company Philips was founded in Eindhoven, and the city's Brainport region attracts technology companies and startups such as Lightyear, which makes road-legal solar-powered cars, and chip developers EFFECT Photonics.
UNStudio is already involved in developing the Brainport Smart District in Helmond, a city in the same region that is 10 minutes from Eindhoven by train.
In a lecture screened exclusively for Dezeen's VDF x reSITE collaboration, UNStudio associate director Marianthi Tatari said the development would "become the smartest neighbourhood in the world".
Visualisations are by Flying Architecture.
Project credits:
Operator: Van der Valk: operator
Architect: UNStudio, Quant architecture
UNStudio design team: Ben van Berkel, Gerard Loozekoot with Erwin Horstmanshof, Pietro Scarpa and Rebekah Tien, Yangkenan Li
Theatre technology and acoustics: PBTA
Structural engineer: Adviesbureau Tielemans
MEP and BREEAM: DVP Smart Concepts:
Cost consultancy: ISIS Bouwadvies
D&B contractor and BREEAM: Huybregts Relou
Project management and tender management: DVP