5TRACKS Mixed-Use District / Shift Architecture Urbanism + Powerhouse Company

With the completion of 5TRACKS, Breda gained a new mixed-use district right next to Central Station, commissioned by Synchroon and J.P. van Eesteren and designed by Shift architecture urbanism and Powerhouse Company. In three expressive buildings, offices, housing, and a hotel come together above a lively plinth filled with hospitality and commercial facilities – marking the final piece in a large-scale redevelopment that transforms this previously overlooked area near the train station. 5TRACKS embodies contemporary urban living while strengthening Breda's international standing.

Located on a 960 m² plot surrounded by dense greenery, this single-family residence explores how a modern volume can harmoniously integrate into a natural setting.

Monasticism emerged from a deep impulse to withdraw—a radical pursuit of spirituality and transcendence. The word itself comes from the Greek μόνος (mónos), meaning “alone,” reflecting the ideal of the holy hermit who retreats from the world to dedicate life entirely to the divine. By the late 3rd century, in Egypt and Palestine, the first Christian monks began to follow this path, creating ways of life that would later give rise to a distinct architecture centered on seclusion.

Batten House is a new family home and studio in Curtin, ACT, adjacent to the Yarralumla Creek open space network. The project responds to its highly visible location next to a public cycle network and to beautiful southern parkland views. The design response is primarily driven by three key objectives. The first is the need to respond to the proximity of a public park and cycleway, the second is the prospect of adjacent southern parkland, and the third is the need for sustainable design outcomes.