Jo Coenen (Heerlen, 30 September 1949) is a Dutch architect. He graduated as an architect from TU Eindhoven in 1975. In 1979, he opened the first branch of his own architectural firm in Eindhoven. In 1990, the office moved to Maastricht. He was Rijksbouwmeester from November 2000 to October 2004. Coenen was a professor at TU Karlsruhe, Aachen, Lausanne, Eindhoven and Delft.
Photo: © Arjen Schmitz
Initially, his office mainly realised relatively small-scale projects, mostly in the south of the country. Coenen gained increasing renown through projects such as the library in Heerlen (1983-1986), the town hall in Delft (1984-1986) and the master plan for the Céramique site in Maastricht.
Photo: © Arjen Schmitz
The interaction between building and city is central to Coenen’s designs. In part by returning elements, he tries to achieve a fusion of the diverse designs and the existing context in a plan. Within Dutch architecture, he acts as an advocate for more historical awareness and a greater sense of continuity.
Innovatoren Venlo
The Innovatoren is made out of two building elements: the 70m high tower and the transparent atrium with its undulating roof. Saving on construction materials. The sustainability target has also been achieved by saving on construction materials. For example, concrete construction stops at the twelfth office floor.
Photo: © Laurens Eggen
From there, the arcade continues with a steel construction. The upper section is built in six separate pieces: four arcade columns and two arcade bridges. These were assembled on the ground, which saved time and complexity in building. The separate sections were then hoisted onto the base complete with installations and outdoor finishing.
About the Author:
Bruno Dursin – Managing Director at Believe in Steel. Bruno has more than 30 years of experience in promoting steel & steel solutions. His clients benefit from his extensive network within the building industry.
