Utrecht Fire Station, The Netherlands
Designed by Van Rooijen Architecten and built in 2011, the Utrecht Fire Station is situated in Vleuten, Utrecht in The Netherlands. The fire station consists of a machine bay for three fire engines, dressing rooms, workshops, offices and meeting areas and a cafeteria. The fire station is situated in a suburban area with mainly traditional housing. On the relatively small site, a two floor building was designed with a cubic shape. The floor plans are very compact and functionally designed to support speedy action in case of fire and emergencies as the responders have to reach an incident within eight minutes. In contrast with the brick of the houses in the area, the fire station was given a specific character expressing the professionalism of the fire brigade.
Gold and red were chosen as the main colours to symbolise fire and fire fighting. The two storey cubical building features an open skin with gold coloured stretched metal on black panelling. Red panels on the inside and outside. This specific use of materials and colours determines the character of the building in its surroundings with mainly brick housing and expresses the professionalism of the fire brigade. The floor plans are very compact and functionally designed allowing a high level of efficiency in order to reach a fire or emergency within eight minutes from the fire station. The public entrance is completely transparent and is also used as a ‘museum’ with equipment from the past.
A bold outside and a soft inside. This is expressed in the design and choice of materials for the fa?ade and the interior. On the outside the metal skin symbolises the toughness of the fire fighters. On the inside the use of wood and colours creates a soft interior.
Art is applied in the building to make everyone feel at home. A large photograph of the old fire station was put on one of the sliding walls. In the canteen a full height black and white graphic with images taken from photo albums from the firemen decorates one of the walls. Trophies and objects find a place in niches and showcases.
Transparency of the building inside and outside is essential. This has a positive influence on the cooperation between the fire fighters and the recognisability to the public.
The machine bay is fully glazed, showing the fire trucks with their equipment to the public, expressing the presence of the fire brigade in the community, active and vigilant.
Sources: Fire Stations of the world, Van Rooijen Architecten