LEVS architecten is a multidisciplinary architecture and urban design firm based in the Netherlands, renowned for tackling complex urban challenges with sustainable, people centric solutions. Their projects, which range from dense residential neighborhoods to mixed-use developments, aim to connect people – with each other, the built environment, and the broader urban fabric.
Every LEVS project is guided by a commitment to collaboration, circularity, and innovation. Their design ethos prioritizes reduced CO₂ emissions during construction and use phase, smart material choices, and structures that endure. To support this mission, LEVS integrates data-driven methods like CFD-based wind analysis into the earliest design stages.
At LEVS, simulation is now embedded in the broader BIM and design workflow. Their team uses SimScale’s cloud native platform to run high-fidelity pedestrian wind comfort studies directly from early stage massing models. Simulations are initiated during concept design to guide decisions on:
SimScale’s ability to deliver LBM simulations in under an hour enables the team to evaluate multiple scenarios quickly, supporting data-informed decisions without bottlenecks.
Location: Tilburg, Netherlands
Scope: Urban Design with Integrated Wind Comfort
Simulation: Pedestrian Wind Comfort using SimScale
On the south side of Tilburg city centre, Koningsplein is being transformed. An asphalted market square will become an open green area that will connect Piushaven with the city centre and urban green spaces. They designed a residential building block, with a tower at the head, creating an intimate living environment by the park and in the courtyard garden. AWG architecten designed the Southern building block and ZUS was responsible for the overall landscape design. Through targeted use of bio-based materials in the interior walls and window frames, they can make a significant impact on the design’s carbon footprint. They also go beyond the BENG standard: the energy consumption meets the Paris Proof targets for delivery year 2027. Additionaly, PV panels are provided on the green roofs and rainwater is buffered. They link this to a grey water system to reduce drinking water consumption.
The Koningswei North building block and development side-view and inside the courtyard. In the connection between the north block and the existing buildings, they create an open passageway for pedestrians and cyclists to the new Koningswei. In this way, they provide a seamless connection between the city park and the surrounding buildings. The entrance to the underground car park runs underground through the north block.
For Koningswei, a new mixed use development, LEVS faced the common urban challenge of ensuring outdoor comfort amid varying wind conditions. The city of Tilburg mandates a formal wind tunnel test before design approval – often leading to expensive rework if wind issues are discovered too late. Instead of waiting for external consultants or physical testing, LEVS ran their own SimScale PWC simulations during design. They optimized building positions and heights based on simulation insights -resolving over 99% of potential comfort issues before the official test.The final wind tunnel study required only one minor landscape tweak: moving a few bushes. No structural or architectural changes were necessary, dramatically reducing time, cost, and risk in the review process.
LEVS now applies this simulation first methodology across a range of urban projects:
The Koningswei project demonstrated the value of conducting pedestrian wind comfort studies in-house. Since then, this approach has been integrated into many other projects. It is particularly effective during the urban planning phase, where we can quickly test multiple design options and obtain results within an hour. This enables us to address most wind-related issues early on by strategically positioning buildings and adjusting the heights where needed. As a result, we avoid having to resolve wind comfort problems later at the architectural level, where solutions are often less effective. In doing so, we help create spaces that not only function well but also inspire and enhance the city.
Reinoud van der Zijde
Senior Architect at LEVS
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