Public railway passage, Tilburg

The Willem II-passage is a new public space, that connects the historical inner-city of Tilburg with the former industrial redevelopment area along the railway. The team designed a sequence of urban spaces and the architecture of the railway underpass, which seamlessly ties together architecture, public space, cultural heritage and traffic space. The passage is an important public route for cyclists and pedestrians. It is not only used as a place for traffic flows, but also accommodates cultural events.

The design of the underpass is based on its public significance and cultural durability. It’s iconic identity is inspired by the existing city. The materials, rhythm and composition of the passage refer to the classical brick architecture of the Willem II street – in a contemporary manner. In a process of designing, prototyping, testing and tinkering, a refined but robust luminous glass brick façade was developed. Technology is not leading – it simply does what it is supposed to do and will operate for decades to come, succeeding where outdated high-tech has failed.

The passage is socially safe, while refraining from conventional safety devices. Approximately 30,000 built in LEDs create a stunning interactive effect. A unique algorithm generates dynamic light effects that are responsive to the time of the day, weather and movement of passers-by. During the day, the walls are white-gray, its bricks massive. During the night, the light increases; patterns appear. The architecture of the passage leaves a lasting impression that is designed to be intriguing both in 30 days and 30 years.