EXPECTED START: 2009/2010
EXPECTED COMPLETION: 2013/2014
STATUS: Development


HEIGHT: 262 meter (860 feet)
FLOORS: 69


GROSS FLOOR AREA: 96800m²

OFFICE SPACE: ± 40.000m²
APPARTMENTS: ± 230 (80m² - 160m²)
HOTEL ROOMS: ± 220 (5 star hotel)
COMMERCIAL SPACE: ± 1000m² (50m² - 200m² per shop)



ARCHITECT: Pi de Bruijn/Branimir Medic (Architecten Cie. (http://www.cie.nl))
DEVELOPER: Burgfonds (http://www.burgfonds.nl)
CONSTRUCTOR: Arup (http://www.arup.com/netherlands)
INSTALLATIONS: Techniplan (http://www.techniplan.nl)/Arup (http://www.arup.com/netherlands)
FIRE SAFETY: Van Hooft (http://www.vanhooft.nl)/Arup (http://www.arup.com/netherlands)
RESEARCH: Peutz (http://www.peutz.nl)
CLADDING: Arup (http://www.arup.com/netherlands)
COST MANAGEMENT: Bouwkosten Management

Official Website (in Dutch) (http://www.bellevanzuijlen.nl)


Fact & Figures:
* Parkingspace for 1750 cars
* Shops will be situated on the ground floor
* Public space on the top floor
* A museum (contemporary art) will be situated in the upper part of the building.
* Congressrooms can hold up to 400 persons
* Visible from a distance of 50 km
* Will be made out of steel (20.000 ton)
* Base of the building will be 110x110 meter, central part 48x48 meter, upper part 100x100 meter
* Situtated in the new suburb 'Leidsche Rijn', which will house 80.000 people.



Renders by Burgfonds

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2503/517gx5.jpg

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6808/516xu3.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8586/scannengz5wc8.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3262/grootsteden1fg7.jpg http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3986/grootsteden3gc7.jpg


Photo's made by ill-b on 29-03-2007

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/9113/200703290219re4.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5739/200703290220wy2.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/8324/200703290218jw1.jpg

Looking good Yarrah.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/7303/ttttmp1.png


Movie http://www.rvrbv.nl/article/show/224

Latest design

17 mei 2008:)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2499438808_0e7dda0c5e_b.jpg
Phot0 @ ill-b

Looks cool, but I'm not sure if it will be build. It's still the Netherlands after all...

^^The city counsel will vote for a full 100% Yes. This one will be build.

N8nxtf7Mf1A

This one can turn out to be either great or a monstrosity, it all depends on the outer coating... Is it going to be covered with glass, or will you see the steel beams? What colour will it have? Are there any realistic renders?
Anyway, this project shows a lot of guts by the city of Utrecht, since it surpasses the previous tallest in the netherlands by 100 metres or so--->respect!

^^ As far as I know, it will have glass cladding, but on one of the photo's you can see some steel beams on the outside.

The colour? Don't know yet. There aren't any realistic renders, so there's no telling what the coulour will be.

This will be the new supertouristattraction for Utrecht, my hometown!:)

We had the tallest building of the Netherlands for 700 hundred years (112 meter), and now the title will be back at the place where it belongs;)

Lol a thread in the international section where the same (Dutch) people give the same comments as they already gave in the same topic which can be found in the Dutch subforums. The only thing different now is the language: English. :tongue2:

I guess some of the other Dutchies are jealous, can't think of an other possibillity;)^^

No dont worry I dont care at all actually. :) I just think it is funny to see.

By the way: a project including a building with a height of 262 meters and such a design is absolutely worth posting in this section I think. :cheers:

great tower

Ugly! But it could be kinda cool in real life.

Looks weird to me. Be lets wait to see better renders.

Good to see this one in the international section. Im exited to hear what other people think about this tower.

Whooow, I am a internationaal membur and im impressed uf thiz huge and beautifullicious tower.
I am really not from the Utrecht(Joetrekt),, look at mij "Location:" ant my bad English!!!!

I rather like the overall design. It's like a flower opening up. I also think it's going to depend on the cladding that make this building beautiful ..or not.

I was in Utrecht last week. Is that on the other side of the highway where this cool car garage is?
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4210/cimg3562largeuy1.jpg
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4215/cimg3561largedd2.jpg

^^ Yes, it's a bit more to the south, just north of the railway. That's not a simple garage though, it's a very luxurious showroom full of the most expensive cars available. ;)

Yep, they already sold 7 Bugatti Veyrons^^

it looks interesting and weird at the same time..

Horrible structure.I hope they never build it.
:|

It looks great. Kind of a weird design but it still looks like a great tower.

It looks like a table base.

When I saw this tower for the first time I thought it was horrible, but I really love the new design.

This is a picture of one of the first designs:
http://trendbeheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/gruwel.jpg

So they are really moving ahead with this?

Guess it will be visible all the way from Amsterdam on a clear day.

^^ It will, maybe even from The Hague and Rotterdam

:yes: Now THAT..is futuristic.

I am a big fan of this futeristic tower. I hope it give a good impuls for more big structers designed whit fantasie and creativitie in the Netherlands.

@ Yarrah: Misschien is het een idee om in je openingspost ook eens te vermelden dat 't in Nederland is. Niet iedereen kent Joetrek natuurlijk...

Horrible building. It's monstrous (not in a positive way like Burj Dubai)

@ Yarrah: Misschien is het een idee om in je openingspost ook eens te vermelden dat 't in Nederland is. Niet iedereen kent Joetrek natuurlijk...
Had ik aanvankelijk ook gedaan, alleen heeft een mod de titel aangepast naar het standaard formaat en daarbij de naam van het land weggehaald.

Great landmark for the Netherlands. This design opens the way for a new generation of towers.

^^ Yes, it's a bit more to the south, just north of the railway. That's not a simple garage though, it's a very luxurious showroom full of the most expensive cars available. ;)

Yah. I stoped to look, but didnt get a view. Just see the "Showroom" from the highway? Rolls, Lambo, Bugatti, Bentley... really great but u cant see hardly anything by passing :( :(


to the topic:

I like the building. not a very conservative design but really cool. will look at it when the next trance energy after completion takes place in jaarbeurs :P

I'm not fond of the design, it's too bulky for my taste, but a tower of this size would suit Utrecht very well. The Netherlands by all means is not a country of highrises, save for Rotterdam, so hopefully this will inspire others to follow suit.

I like the building. not a very conservative design but really cool. will look at it when the next trance energy after completion takes place in jaarbeurs :P

Whahaha:lol:, you're a trance energy fan?:)

Well, you know why you can't see the cars really good? Because they're preparing the ground between the highway and the showroom. This open space will be the new highway, 2 x 5 lanes. But it's only temporarilly, nothing to worry about for Hessing. Every day more than 2 million people pass the showroom, I couldn't imagine better propoganda!

Whahaha:lol:, you're a trance energy fan?:)

Well, you know why you can't see the cars really good? Because they're preparing the ground between the highway and the showroom. This open space will be the new highway, 2 x 5 lanes. But it's only temporarilly, nothing to worry about for Hessing. Every day more than 2 million people pass the showroom, I couldn't imagine better propoganda!

How do you fit 10 people in EVERY car that passes this showroom? The A2 handles around 200.000 cars each day so 200.000 people would be more accurate.


@idkblk:

Since there are trafficjams for 6 to 8 hours per day most people have enough time to look at the showroom. ;)

http://www.volkskrant.nl/images/utrechttoren.jpg
Far out the highest and most futuristic in the center of the Netherlands^^ .
http://207.44.228.232/photopost/data//500/6groot-locatie2.jpg

Design whit guts. Old render^^ every moment the new and worked out designs come out.

You know what, the tower will be only 2 km from my house, maybe less! I guess about 1 mile:D
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/29/bellelocatieqm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm living in Maarssen, you can see it on this picture, a suburb of Utrecht.

Don't like this building, but still a great design.

They got a lot of improvements to make before they can build this (I hope they do).

Gross! Absolutely horrendous :puke: the shouldn't spoil the city with such a monstruosity :ohno:

I dont like it. Looks like some monument somewhere in Africa or the middle east.

You mean in Algeria?^^

That's a bit exaggerated!

http://www.peutz.nl/nieuws/PeutzActueel/2007_03/PA_Windtunnelonderzoek_B.JPG

Tested in a wind tunnel.

Wow if I had an apartment at the top cantilevering over the edge, I would like to have the part that is cantilevered have a glass floor like CN tower then I could look straight down!

i hope this horrifying building never sees the light of day... but i m glad it wont be placed in Rotterdam... and hopefully when it does get build... you wont be able 2 see it from Rotterdam so i wont go blind :nuts:

HATE the design. But since my countries tallest tower is only 150 meters or so it MUST be build, just to break the fucking standards so REAL skyscrapers can finally be build in our country. I mean, serious, what is 150 m on world scale? Even 260 meters is reasonably low.

i hope this horrifying building never sees the light of day... but i m glad it wont be placed in Rotterdam... and hopefully when it does get build... you wont be able 2 see it from Rotterdam so i wont go blind :nuts:

You can't see it from Rotterdam, because the towers there are to low:naughty:
The judgment is about a view mass/function and height renders. This is a new concept/design and the finally design will come. New things are always difficult for the standard conservative man without any imagination.

(@im_from_zw038. Even 260 meters is reasonably low.) Not for European standard. This tower will come in the top 20 highest in Europe. When you measure it whit all the big city's in Europa it is not many.

Horrible building.

I love the look of the second picture

Horrible building.

i like the shape, it has something special :)

It's certainly a love it or hate it building. I like it because it's so undutch!

I'm sure the majority will like this building when it's completed.

One may of course not like the design of this tower, however it's difficult to judge the building on the ground of a few rather unclear renders, but this tower will break a taboo around supertalls in the Netherlands. It can play an important role of a green light for new highrise proposals in other Dutch cities. Therefore I'd like this tower to be built, despite its controversial design, which to me, personally, looks quite interesting and unique.

its just an incredibly UGLY building... now if the rabobank building (105m) would be the same height as this one... i would be all excited, because that building is beautifull... just have a look at it...

http://207.44.228.232/images/B04/4227.jpg

/drool

now compare it with:

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6808/516xu3.jpg

^^^Nice to make a comperment whit a worked out render of a building that is U/C and a render still in the begin of the design proces. Further we know your statement, you had post that several times already.

the design is not final yet??

i think the version where it looks more symmetrical looks ugly. the other one is very nice

^^ They're currently waiting for the city council to approve of this project. After that, they'll start working out the preliminary designs posted in this topic.

I don't think we'll see any final designs until 2008.

A nice tower I can't wait!

The city counsel has put money away to finance the infra structure around the tower. Good sign.

BELLE VAN ZUYLEN
Leidsche Rijn is the new urban development area of Utrecht,
in which Papendorp is already a major office location.
Leidsche Rijn is anticipated to house 80,000 residents in
2015. The sub area Leidsche Rijn Centre, positioned at the
intersection of the railway and the A2 motorway to the west of
Utrecht, will be the commercial core of this new area, and
eventually grow to become the second centre of Utrecht.
Current plans for Leidsche Rijn Centre comprise 245,000sq.m
of office space, 45,000sq.m of retail space and 34,000sq.m of
other facilities.
One particularly interesting potential development in Leidsche
Rijn Centre is the project Belle van Zuylen. Plans include the
construction of a tower of 262 metres high to the west of
Leidsche Rijn Centre. Once completed, this will be one of the
highest towers in Europe, which will characterise the horizon
for a few million Dutch people.
The 69 storey tower is planned to be multifunctional and can
be seen as a vertical city. It will accommodate 40,000sq.m of
offices, 230 apartments, hotel floors, retail units and parking
areas.
The feasibility study carried out by
the developer Burgfonds, is now
finalised. According to Burgfonds,
the plans are achievable, marketable,
can be financed and are
expected to cost A 500 million. The
Municipality is currently analysing
the detailed plans for this project.
Initial response has been enthusiastic.
A formal reaction from the
Municipality is expected by June.

Bron: Market Watch-Cushman & Wakefield ( mei 2007) Yarrah;)

Still, nothing but preliminary designs. Here's a mesh-like render of the Belle van Zuylen.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/175/belleso7.png

Damn, it's such a beauty!!^^

waarom duurt dat bouwen in Nederland altijd zo achterlijk lang, 3 tot 4/5jaar, das toch veel?:S

I'm a big fan of skyscrapers, and really hope Utrecht will get its own 250+ meter building(s), but for C's sake, don't let it be this abomination: I've seen many fugly designs over the years, but goddamn, this one really takes the cake! :puke:

I think because of the fact that it will stand there completely on it's own, this tower calls for something other than a conventional box or spire design. This design makes it look more like a landmark, like the Eiffel tower for example, instead of a lone skyscraper that would look totally out of place. I was skeptical at first as well, but I have to say I'm warming up to this tower.

It's still preliminary design and it's already fantastic? I can't wait for more.

waarom duurt dat bouwen in Nederland altijd zo achterlijk lang, 3 tot 4/5jaar, das toch veel?:S


This is the international part, so you must talk here in English.

250M+ in Utrecht is very strange, for a city with only 300.000 people.
And I don't like the desgin, but I hope it will built.

This is the international part, so you must talk here in English.

250M+ in Utrecht is very strange, for a city with only 300.000 people.
And I don't like the desgin, but I hope it will built.

Not so strange i think. The city is the fastest grower of inhabitants in the Netherlands. Only Amsterdam en Utrecht (of the Dutch city's) are standing in the top 20 European list fasted economic crowing city's. The city only is the core of a area whit 650.000 inhabitants. A lot of HQ of banking, insurance en ict. Biggest University of the Netherlands. The inhabitants of the city are the highest educated in this country. Now they will make a statement and try to compete whit the Amsterdam Zuid-As area (there neighbour). Not a bad thing.

Some progress has been made today. According to a short statement published by the municipality the feasibility research, performed by the developer and a large group of advisors, concluded that it is possible to realise this project.

This feasibility research was performed to find out if the height, foundation, construction and safety were possible to realise, if the building would fit in the spatial build-up of the surrounding area and, probably the most important aspect, if it would be financialy possible to build and use it. No need to explain that this is a big step forward.

The architect will now start with drawing the preliminary designs (apparently we've been looking at the pre-preliminary designs in this thread :nuts: ). The municipality and the developer will then start discussing who will have to do (do=pay) what, which will result in an official letter of intent.

There's one problem which hasn't been solved yet. The government has noted this project and some politicians questioned if a building like this, massive to Dutch standards, would fit in the 'old Dutch Landscape' and if the broad views from the pastures wouldn't be ruined by this building. The government decided that the project had to be examined by an architect which has been appointed by the government to advise them concerning urban planning and architecture (Mels Crouwel is his name). Let's hope he doesn't say anything about the height and will only give some help making the design better.

That's it for now...

A nice tower I can't wait!

And I don't like the desgin, but I hope it will built.

Hmmm....;)

Hmmm....;)

I have forgetten that I post twice in this topic :bash:
But I don't like the design, bur I hope it will built:)

Some progress has been made today. According to a short statement published by the municipality the feasibility research, performed by the developer and a large group of advisors, concluded that it is possible to realise this project.

This feasibility research was performed to find out if the height, foundation, construction and safety were possible to realise, if the building would fit in the spatial build-up of the surrounding area and, probably the most important aspect, if it would be financialy possible to build and use it. No need to explain that this is a big step forward.

The architect will now start with drawing the preliminary designs (apparently we've been looking at the pre-preliminary designs in this thread :nuts: ). The municipality and the developer will then start discussing who will have to do (do=pay) what, which will result in an official letter of intent.

There's one problem which hasn't been solved yet. The government has noted this project and some politicians questioned if a building like this, massive to Dutch standards, would fit in the 'old Dutch Landscape' and if the broad views from the pastures wouldn't be ruined by this building. The government decided that the project had to be examined by an architect which has been appointed by the government to advise them concerning urban planning and architecture (Mels Crouwel is his name). Let's hope he doesn't say anything about the height and will only give some help making the design better.

That's it for now...
Good news, but on the other hand I wonder why government has to get involved in such things. I just hope this tower will be built and finally will end the fight against tall buildings in the Netherlands. ;)

^^ Our conservative friends of the Christian Democrats thought it was for the best of the country to get involved.

There's one problem which hasn't been solved yet. The government has noted this project and some politicians questioned if a building like this, massive to Dutch standards, would fit in the 'old Dutch Landscape' and if the broad views from the pastures wouldn't be ruined by this building. The government decided that the project had to be examined by an architect which has been appointed by the government to advise them concerning urban planning and architecture (Mels Crouwel is his name). Let's hope he doesn't say anything about the height and will only give some help making the design better.

^^
The city council is very exited about this project. They don't need a approval to build it. After the Holiday (a few weeks) they will vote for a go or no go for this tower. The sign's looking good for the Belle van Zuylen.

Damn, I really, really hate this tower! Some months ago i saw this on the Dutch tv, but I hope they won't build it.

it kind of looks like the leg of a table or something

3 more images, showing (part of) the philosophy behind the shape and a few models. The last image is the most interesting IMO.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6541/belle1wv0.png

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1219/belle2dc8.png

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1567/belle3mc5.png
Source: Architecten Cie.

:eek:

I can't wait to see more renders. I have a good feeling of this futuristic tower.

And another quick update on the progress of this tower...

A few months ago a few politicians from the Christian Democrats (CDA) wondered if this tower would fit in the well-known Dutch landscape of pastures and canals with windmills. They basically wanted to know if the tower wouldn't be too 'visible' due to it's extreme (for Dutch standards) height (see post #70).

A few days ago, a government agency called the RPB (Ruimtelijk Planbureau) published a research about the visibility of the tower. In this research, they used GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and several datasets (satellite data, building databases and climatology data) to calculate the visibility of the tower in different seasons and in different weather conditions. The results (see below) are pretty positive for skyscraper fans, but might be used by people who are afraid the Dutch landscape will be ruined by Belle, since its visibility is quite amazing.


Conclusions:

> In theory the tower would be visible from a distance of 62km. However, in reality this is impossible, because the Netherlands isn't a big, flat plain. Buildings, trees and other objects will severely limit the visibility

> In reality, the tower will never be visible from a distance of more then 35km. But this is only possible when there are no other objects blocking your view and the weather is perfect. It might even be completely invisible in some places in this 35km wide circle.

> The weather plays a big role when it comes to the visibility. As you might know, the weather here is often rainy, which limits the visbility. When you take the average Dutch weather in account, you'll see that from a distance of 5km, the tower will be visible 78% of the time and from a distance of 30km only 9% of the time.

> Compared to other tall Dutch buildings, it will have the biggest impact on the horizon.

Map of Belle's visibility: the darker the yellow, the better it's visible. Note that it will be possible to this tower from Amsterdam and also from The Hague and Rotterdam (if you stand on top of a normal building).

http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/6804/belle4ko6.png


Now it's up to the municipality of Utrecht to make sure this tower becomes reality. Things are looking great though, since most politicians in this city are excited about this project. The Christian Democrats in the national parliament also need to be watched, since they might use this research to point out the possible 'damage' to the Dutch landscape...

That's it for now...

Nice Update. ^^Typical Christian Democrats how they try to inter fear in all things in live. A little bit scary how they present them self in Holland the last years, and even try to run people's personal live. This country is running back to the 50 s, now the Cristians rule's this country. I am happy that the municipality of Utrecht not have to listen to decide to build this tower.

Last week the 'Rijksbouwmeester' (a special architect who advises the government on architecture and spatial planning) gave his advice about this project to the minister of enviroment and spatial planning. Today, a spokesperson of the minister told the press what she thought of the Belle van Zuylen after she read the advice.

It isn't positive at all. According to the minister the Belle van Zuylen 'is the wrong tower in the wrong place'. The minister thinks that this tower doesn't fit into its surroundings (mostly buildings of 5 to 7 stories) and that it's too close to the 'Green Heart', a large area which consists of the typical Dutch polders. She fears that the height of the tower will 'pollute the horizon'.

The minister plans on further examining the advice given by the 'Rijksbouwmeester' and to inform the parliament about this advice.

What is going to happen now is very unclear at the moment. Keep in mind that the municipality can still decide to ignore this advice, but that they'll probably face a conflict with the government should they decide to do this. We'll just have to wait for an official statement from either the municipality or the developer, since they were just about to sign the first contracts.

Two animations of the Belle van Zuylen.

http://www.rvrbv.nl/article/show/224

For the Nederlands it is just the tallest building (structure) in the hole area of Europe! execp for Franfkurt. But Nederland is increases in al the cities especially in Rotterdam.

Last week the 'Rijksbouwmeester' (a special architect who advises the government on architecture and spatial planning) gave his advice about this project to the minister of enviroment and spatial planning. Today, a spokesperson of the minister told the press what she thought of the Belle van Zuylen after she read the advice.

It isn't positive at all. According to the minister the Belle van Zuylen 'is the wrong tower in the wrong place'. The minister thinks that this tower doesn't fit into its surroundings (mostly buildings of 5 to 7 stories) and that it's too close to the 'Green Heart', a large area which consists of the typical Dutch polders. She fears that the height of the tower will 'pollute the horizon'.

The minister plans on further examining the advice given by the 'Rijksbouwmeester' and to inform the parliament about this advice.

What is going to happen now is very unclear at the moment. Keep in mind that the municipality can still decide to ignore this advice, but that they'll probably face a conflict with the government should they decide to do this. We'll just have to wait for an official statement from either the municipality or the developer, since they were just about to sign the first contracts.

If i could vote for this building, i would firstly call up the minister and say *bleep* you, only to decide for myself if it is good for Utrecht or not. I would go for a yes, because it gives the Netherlands and Utrecht international attention in a good way.

Only the second render on the first page looks cool, the rest is pretty crap. I'm not convinced of it's beauty so far. :)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/7303/ttttmp1.png

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/franswoerden/Uitzicht20Bell.jpg
@Runner


Move Clip http://www.rvrbv.nl/article/show/224

Intention acreement 2008
Final Design 2009
Start building 2010

this tower reminds me of Burj Al Alam proposed in dubai
http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/4/23494-burj.jpg

^^The Belle design and the constructon is more exciting. The top is expending out of the center of the tower.

Last week the 'Rijksbouwmeester' (a special architect who advises the government on architecture and spatial planning) gave his advice about this project to the minister of enviroment and spatial planning. Today, a spokesperson of the minister told the press what she thought of the Belle van Zuylen after she read the advice.

It isn't positive at all. According to the minister the Belle van Zuylen 'is the wrong tower in the wrong place'. The minister thinks that this tower doesn't fit into its surroundings (mostly buildings of 5 to 7 stories) and that it's too close to the 'Green Heart', a large area which consists of the typical Dutch polders. She fears that the height of the tower will 'pollute the horizon'.

The minister plans on further examining the advice given by the 'Rijksbouwmeester' and to inform the parliament about this advice.

What is going to happen now is very unclear at the moment. Keep in mind that the municipality can still decide to ignore this advice, but that they'll probably face a conflict with the government should they decide to do this. We'll just have to wait for an official statement from either the municipality or the developer, since they were just about to sign the first contracts.

http://www.ad.nl/multimedia/archive/00126/unst01_2909belle_126235a.jpg
Photo of the east site of the city of Utrecht. Virtual image of the Belle van Zuylen. In the new plans of the city this tower will be surrounded whit high rise.

The municipality has shown the minister the area were this building will be built. She is more exiting about this area. The municipality will chance the city plans. The Belle van Zuylen will be surrounded whit high rise buildings:).

this height for a town with less than 300.000 inhabitants .... fantastic


has this anything to do with "Leidsche Rijn" ?

this height for a town with less than 300.000 inhabitants .... fantastic


has this anything to do with "Leidsche Rijn" ?

Yes ^^Leidscherijn is a new part of Utrecht whit in the near future 100.000 inhabitants. Utrecht is the city whit the fastest crowing economic and inhabitants in hole of Holland. Every moment the city will past the 300.000, in a few years it will be 400.000. Including suburbs the city has 650.000 inhabitants. The city is not a named place in Europa, they hope the Belle will change that a little bit. Per example-A lot of people in Europe thinks that Amsterdam is the financial center of Holland. Almost 50% of the HQ's of banking-insurance and ICT companies are stationed in Utrecht.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/1666/titelbalkbellevanzuylengp2.gif

The municipality of Utrecht organised an discussion and information day for the inhabitants on 17 mei in the Leidscherijn information center. On this day you can go into a crane (on the place where the Belle will be build) to a spectacular height of 262 meter.

http://www.utrecht.nl/images/LeidscheRijn/template/Meer%20Informatie/Informatiecentrum%20LR.gif

Leidscherij is a new part of the city of Utrecht, the municipality has decide that the center will be "the sky is the limit.

The first tower that they will build is the 262 m Belle van Zuylen to try to put the city on the European map.

The status of the tower:

The municipality given the architect the green light to design the final worked out design of the tower.
The tower is in second phase of the environment procedure (MER) what can lead to a building permit.
The municipality has started up a campaign to inform the people en discus whit them. On the website they have now 8 web pages for information (in Dutch) http://www.utrecht.nl/smartsite.dws?id=233369 about the tower and the building program of the second center of Utrecht.

What's the highest building of Europe ?. Is that the Naberezjnaja-tower in Moscow (268 m).

stunning project!!!!!

Some of the latest renders/impressions:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2499438808_0e7dda0c5e_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/2498570309_0296e6feed_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/2498627493_b7eaaffbdf_b.jpg

Whooow fantastic.

A great futuristik tower:nuts: Never seen in Europe.

Wow, Love the renders! So much more impresive...

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/8607/20080517133804xn7.png

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5142/20080517132408kd4.png

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9727/20080517135740ts9.png

Three screenshot of the movie

I love design:banana:. A real eycatcher.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2499438808_0e7dda0c5e_b.jpg

-edit-

I love the new design :)

i love trees in such tall towers :)

VHPCjKTYosE

Whole presentation movie^^ Enjoy

Great video. Top design Utrecht go for it.

The inside looks like something out of a futuristic movie! Great!

looks great!

Wow, that is an improvement in design!

(-;

Header Dutch newspaper.

‘Laat Belle maar komen’

In English-Let the Belle come.

http://www.ad.nl/multimedia/archive/00155/BELLE_155618a.jpg

Left the designer talking whit inhabitants of the city of Utrecht on a information day. The people where very exiting about the tower. They loved the new design. About 700 people visited the information center.

The new design is fantastic, but I remain highly sceptical if they are really building it.

http://www.architectenweb.nl/bin/news/109202.jpg

Architecten web.


http://www.cie.nl/projecten/architectuur/hoogbouw/belle-van-zuylen,-utrecht.aspx

More pics and info^^

in the movie about Belle, it looks like the freeway is going underground. is that true?

in the movie about Belle, it looks like the freeway is going underground. is that true?


The Belle will be build at the right side against (riding from Amsterdam to Utrecht on the A2 motorway) the entree of a 1.6 km tunnel whit a 10 lane wide motorway. On top of the tunnel there will be a train station and a whole new suburb of Utrecht.

^^

cool :D

I love the new render.

Beautiful tower and so futuristic!

OMG! :eek: I do not even know what to think about it. It is at the same time: beautiful and ugly, stylish and monstruous and also impressive!!!

I would love to see this one being built. The design has undergone a real improvement! :)

http://www.stijlmeester.nl/picture_library/burj_belle.jpg
Photo shop By @Yurp.

For Dutch standards is the Belle far out the highest and biggest tower:nuts:, on world scale it's a medium size:lol:


VHPCjKTYosE

http://www.stijlmeester.nl/picture_library/burj_belle.jpg

OMG :eek: for European standards is this enormes! This is a project forward to the future! A leader or icon for the European coming decades...:cheers:

Yeah, but in 1000 years, Frankfurt has Millennium Tower!
I made a photomontage of Frankfurt by the time MT gets inaugurated! ;) :lol:
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7258/94208636zp7kopiehn0.jpg

No, but honestly, it is even an icon for it's design! It is outstanding in europe!!!

http://www.bellevanzuylen.info/belle-van-zuylen-film.php

Original movie ^^

I downloaded the video to my HD! It is great!!! :uh:

Wow...amazing design!!! :banana:
Looks like a building from another planet!

i hope they build it 24/7 so it is build quickly :P

The biggest tower back in Utrecht!
Just like in the past in the time of the knights

http://www.stijlmeester.nl/picture_library/burj_belle.jpg

OMG :eek: for European standards is this enormes! This is a project forward to the future! A leader or icon for the European coming decades...:cheers:

For western Europe yes but not for the whole Europe. Moscow is an european city! But great design and a nice projekt for Holland. Hopefully this start a race for higher buildings i Holland.

It would also be enormous for Moscow. Don't do as if Moscow was full of supertalls just like Dubai or Shanghai or Hong Kong! :ohno:

It would also be enormous for Moscow. Don't do as if Moscow was full of supertalls just like Dubai or Shanghai or Hong Kong! :ohno:

I think this tower don't start a race in Holland. In the future i think Rotterdam will build a higher tower, but not whit a intention to start a race. Rotterdam is High rise capital in the Netherlands and will stay that. This tower will be an icon, landmark and statement of the economic power and growth, innovation, creativity and courage of the city of Utrecht.

It would also be enormous for Moscow. Don't do as if Moscow was full of supertalls just like Dubai or Shanghai or Hong Kong! :ohno:

No not enormous for Moscow. Moscow have about 15 projects bigger than this u/c and more waiting for approval so it wouldn't make any difference there. But as I said a fine project for Holland though.

:|

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2868103362_0fee875176_b.jpg

Photo ill-b

Activity on the building area. Whit a big pipe they put ton's of sand on the building area.:)


http://www.bellevanzuylen.info/belle-van-zuylen-film.php

^^ Great movie

I am not sure if this means that they will start soon, but the sooner the better. :)

I don't like the tower, it doesn't fit in that area. Maybe they are going to build some other tall towers, that will be better.

^^ If it's going to be build (the world financial crisis could be a problem), there will be some other highrise around it. So, no worries..;)

http://utopia.ision.nl/users/utrarchi/06024-so%20080917_Utrechts%20Architectuurcentrum%20Belle%2001.jpg
http://utopia.ision.nl/users/utrarchi/06024-so%20080917_Utrechts%20Architectuurcentrum%20Belle%2002.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2928851606_c9ec70a8fa_b.jpg

Plaza.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2927992563_688f4e68e2_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2928851256_a7deb630fe_b.jpg

Location.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2928852002_4d6126bf1f_b.jpg

Skin of the tower.

I don't like the tower, it doesn't fit in that area. Maybe they are going to build some other tall towers, that will be better.

^^

http://www.stijlmeester.nl/pics/belle_rotterdam.jpg

The Belle comparing whit the Montevideo (highest buylding of Rotterdam) in the skyline of Rotterdam.

i think the tower must stand alone. because of its design. its so big.

No i think some other lower but also beautyfull towers must be build around it in the range of 80-150 m

we will see.. the whole city is under construction. and the traffic problem arround utrecht is hororble..

but still like my home town :P

Very ugly, and the floor plans are atrocious.

Man, I wish same-size cities here in Germany had such projects!!!

Why did they choose to built this tower in Utrecht? And not in Rotterdam?

^^ Utrecht is awesome, that's why:lol:

"Stupid questions don't exist only stupid answers."

;-)

Why did they choose to built this tower in Utrecht? And not in Rotterdam?

I think that they will build a bigger tower in Rotterdam. This just to keep the highest tower of The Netherlands in Rotterdam. So maybe they will rethink the Parkhaven Tower.

http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/8233/parkhaventoren1fz0.png

This tower will have a hight of 392m, 1286ft.

That would be really nice. The Parkhaven Tower is such a nice design. :banana:

What a monstrosity. How terrible that Utrecht might ruin its beautiful city with this...thing.

I think that they will build a bigger tower in Rotterdam. This just to keep the highest tower of The Netherlands in Rotterdam. So maybe they will rethink the Parkhaven Tower.

http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/8233/parkhaventoren1fz0.png

This tower will have a hight of 392m, 1286ft.

That would be really nice. The Parkhaven Tower is such a nice design. :banana:

I hope not. This would make all the other towers look too tiny. Better two towers with about 230 to 250m!

What a monstrosity. How terrible that Utrecht might ruin its beautiful city with this...thing.

I don't think it will. This 'thing' will be built kilometres away from the old city centre.

Nice towers, I can't believe that they will build them?

I hope not. This would make all the other towers look too tiny. Better two towers with about 230 to 250m!

This tower is not planned in the city centre. It's planned near the river 'Maas' outside the centre. I think 2 km out.

^^ Make that 'was'. This tower is dead for 4 years by now.

Really :(

Very interesting design, innovative, a new proposed shape for a tower...

Design officebuildings around de Belle van Zuylen by Rietveld Architects.

http://www.rietveldarchitects.com/image/officebuilding/renderings_4.jpg

http://www.rietveldarchitects.com/image/officebuilding/renderings_6.jpg

http://www.rietveldarchitects.com/image/officebuilding/axio_5.jpg

http://www.rietveldarchitects.com/image/officebuilding/axio_1.jpg
Founded by ill-b

Very innovative tower en serrounding. New way of building and design. Very nice that the offices around the Belle hanging a part over the motorway as soundbarrier.

Very innovative tower en serrounding. New way of building and design. Very nice that the offices around the Belle hanging a part over the motorway as soundbarrier.

ik snap niet waarom je dit hier post als je Nederlander bent. ( ga naar de Nederlandse draad voor de belle) komt nogal zielig over (:banana:ik kan engels of ik wil graag dat een Nederlandse toren tussen de echte torens komt)

^^ Deze proposal hoort hier gewoon thuis. Als iedereen zo zou denken zou er dus geen ssc zijn. En als je opmerkingen maakt van deze aard maakt, zou het fijn zijn als je reageert als een ander vragen stelt over deze opmerking (zie Rabotoren thread).

I still prefer a few lower towers in a cluster. But fairly, the renders become better and better. :)

Wat mij verbaast is dat de Nederlanders dit levend houden terwijl dit eigenlijk voor de niet Nederlanders bedoeld is. Als een buitenlander een vraag steld en een Nederlander beantwoordt het is er niks mis mee maar om als Nederlander commentaar te geven van wow en erg leuk dat kan die net zo goed doen in de Nederlandse thread. Ik kijk niet regelmatig elke plek waar ik iets geschreven heb maar zal gelijk ff kijken wat er gezegd is bij Rabo.

it looks great and cool at the same time.

http://www.utrecht.nl/images/LeidscheRijn/template/Gebieden/Centrum/SP%20Leidsche%20Rijn%20Centrum%20Noord%20Hoofdstuk%201%20tm%205.pdf

http://www.utrecht.nl/images/LeidscheRijn/template/Gebieden/Centrum/SP%20Leidsche%20Rijn%20Centrum%20Noord%20Hoofdstuk%206%20tm%2012.pdf

http://www.bellevanzuylen.info/

Movie:)

The tower has officialy been cancelled...

It's a shame, another victim of the crisis. :(

I think it's a good thing. I don't think it would have looked pretty on that location...