Glazen Zaal – Tilburg

Built in 1990, the renowned Glazen Zaal in the Amsterdam’s Beurs van Berlage entirely dismantled by Octatube Services in 2014 and reconstructed at the LocHal in Tilburg, exemplifying circularity and repurposing.

Music hall

The Glazen Zaal – designed by Pieter Zaanen and Mick Eekhout – served as concert hall for the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra in the Beurs van Berlage for three decades. It was the pioneering large frameless glass structure in the Netherlands. The venue measures 10m in height, 9 to 13 m in width, and 22 m in length, with a seating capacity of 200 people. After the orchestra vacated the Beurs van Berlage, the hall became redundant. However, with its acquisition by the municipality of Tilburg in 2018, this distinctive space found new purpose in the Lochal.

Repurpose

To rebuild the Glazen Zaal, the steel frame of the hall and part of the glass roof were initially assembled at ground level. They were then lifted to just beneath the LocHal’s roof using special hoisting equipment. Six columns bear the load of the space frame, each supported by specifically designed new pedestals. Wind bracing in three places ensures the structure’s stability. The facades are suspended like curtains from the columns using tension rods.

Mission

The multifunctional LocHal has been in use for lectures and events since early 2019. Adapting, maintaining or repurposing the older Octatube portfolio to meet new needs is a key mission of Octatube Services.