The redevelopment of the former site of the Royal Dutch Factory for Tools and Railway Equipment, located in Utrecht’s Spoorzone (Railway Zone), is an extensive and phased project expected to be fully completed by 2028. The project involves the transformation of a former Dutch Railways industrial site, covering approximately 9 hectares, into a mixed-use urban area featuring housing, creative enterprises, and hospitality venues. A defining feature of the development is the preservation of industrial heritage, including old halls, railway tracks, and other historical railway elements. In addition, there is a strong focus on sustainability, green spaces, and a low-traffic urban design. As part of this ambitious project, Metadecor contributed by creating a robust and striking façade of aluminium-coloured MD Expanded Metal for the parking garage in the Wisselspoor area.

Tailored sustainable façade solution

The parking garage was developed by Continental Car Parks and completed in October 2021. This five-storey mobility hub offers space for 174 vehicles and is designed as part of the Cityplot concept by architecture firm Studioninedots. The design blends the industrial legacy of the former Bovenbouwwerkplaats with modern, sustainable features. Alongside solar panels, the garage boasts a distinctive expanded metal façade. Expanded metal is extremely durable, weather-resistant, and requires minimal maintenance, factors that contribute to reducing its environmental impact over its lifetime.

Metal mesh curtain

The expanded metal curtain rises powerfully above the classic industrial structure. The aluminium has been anodised, giving the metal a deep, vibrant finish. In direct sunlight, variations in colour and reflection appear depending on the angle of the light, causing the surface to display shifting nuances under different conditions.

To create the pleated mesh curtain, various folding and bending techniques were tested. A specially extruded profile within the MD Verti system, featuring a rounded strip onto which the expanded metal is mounted, provides the desired level of refinement. The MD Expanded Metal had to be rolled to ensure precise alignment at the vertical seams, giving the façade the appearance of one continuous surface.