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Grey-brick exterior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur

Bovenbouw Architectuur creates grey-brick police station in Antwerp

Belgian studio Bovenbouw Architectuur has completed a police station in Antwerp with a robust grey-brick form designed to convey "approachability and security".

Located alongside a main road in the city's western Linkeroever area, the station sits in a run of buildings that also includes the local fire station.

Road in Antwerp with fire station and police office
Bovenbouw Architectuur has created a police station in Antwerp

"The building positions itself autonomously with respect to the fire station, creating a balanced cadence in the street," said the Bovenbouw Architectuur.

"The fire department and police force have their own distinct identity and each building forms a distinctive feature amongst the solitary blocks," it continued.

Grey-brick exterior at the Bovenbouw Architectuur-designed police station
The building has a grey-brick exterior

Bovenbouw Architectuur's design is informed by both the station's public location as well as the need for it to be both open and secure.

Its areas of austere grey brick are contrasted with large double-height windows, which the studio said takes cues from "robust and transparent" buildings by American architect Louis Sullivan.

Garden of Antwerp police station
The ground floor looks out over a garden

"Our inspiration for the new building comes from some bank buildings developed by Louis Sullivan at the beginning of the 20th century in the United States," explained the studio.

"These buildings are simultaneously robust and transparent," it continued. 'They express confidence and invite, fitting very closely with the desire of the police to have a building that can radiate approachability and security."

Organisationally, the police station is roughly divided into two zones.

The public-facing reception areas face the street and an office at the rear has full-height windows that overlook the large garden, which is surrounded by the station's parking area and dog kennel.

Interior of police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
The interior has curving forms

On the first floor are the more private areas for staff, including a canteen with a small external courtyard, bathrooms and changing areas illuminated by large square windows and circular skylights in the roof.

Throughout the interiors, materials have been chosen to bring a robust feel, with white-painted brickwork teamed with exposed ductwork, wood-framed partition walls and exposed fibreboard arranged to create zig-zagging ceilings.

Interior of a Antwerp police office by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Robust materials are used across the interior

The monochrome colour palette is enlivened by bright blue upstands on the staircase and balcony balustrades, as well as the orange-metal casing of the thin lighting strips.

Bovenbouw Architectuur was founded by Dirk Somers in 2011. Other recent projects by the studio include a home in the Belgian village of Bazel, which features a form of black-painted brick that follows the shape of the surrounding terrain.

In 2021, the studio's founder Somers created a fictional Flemish city named Composite Presence for the Belgian Pavilion at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale.

The photography is by Filip Dujardin.

More images and plans

First floor plan of the Antwerp police station by Bovunbouw Architectuur
First floor plan
Section drawing of the Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Section
Exterior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Exterior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Exterior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur
Interior of Antwerp police station by Bovenbouw Architectuur