A cultural hub for Amersfoort

Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964) was a Dutch furniture designer and architect who was a principal member of the artistic movement called De Stijl. He is internationally recognized for his design of the Red & Blue Chair and the Rietveld Schröder House which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rietveld designed several pavilions, of which the Dutch Pavilion in Venice was the first. The Zonnehof Pavilion in Amersfoort, designed in 1957, was his last and is the subject of this course.

The Zonnehof Pavillion is an art gallery for exhibitions of modern art for the city of Amersfoort. It is a prime example of 20th century modern architecture, reflecting the concept of light, air and space. Its construction was finished in 1959 and it stayed in use as a cultural center for contemporary exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and jewelry for almost 50 years. The Zonnehof’s materialization, refined detailing and the proportions

of the building are exceptional. The design of the Zonnehof is based on a 3-dimensional grid of 3x3x3m. The façade is characterized by large window panels in combination with glazed brickwork in primary colors. The function of the Zonnehof is currently being reconsidered.

The brief for the design assignment is to transform the Zonnehof into a Design, Architecture and Interior design museum (DAI), combined with a social program. The building therefore requires an extension and the design of Rietveld needs to be upgraded to fulfil future demands concerning sustainability.

The challenge of the assignment is to deal with an example of 50s modernist architecture designed by the prominent Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld and to create a new relationship with its context. The studio will be a collaboration between the H&A Architectural Design studio and the Building Engineering studio (AR1A080).

TutorsWouter WillersLidy Meijers

Code AR1AH010Credits 10 ECTSLocation AmersfoortExcursion Yes*Costs -

Heritage & ArchitectureMSc1 New Heritage: Rietveld Pavilion Zonnehof

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*To be defined according to applicable Covid-19 measures

The DRU company was founded in Ulft, in the very east of the Netherlands, in 1754, as one of the many ironworks in the area. It soon became the biggest company in the region, providing employment for people in the wider area. It mainly produced enameled cast-iron products that were shipped to countries all over the world. At the end of the twentieth century, production methods didn’t fit the buildings anymore, and the company relocated. The last building was vacated in 2003.

The complex was reprogrammed as a ‘cultural factory’ in 2009. Seven of the buildings were listed as national monument to preserve the memory of the meaning of this industrial complex. The first building to be re-programmed was the porter’s building, containing a theater, a film house, a pop music stage, rehearsal studios and a grand café. Nowadays all seven monumental buildings of the complex each have its special function. All of the functions are regionally orientated.

The assignment is to develop the Stainless Steel Products Hall (SPP) into a national or even international events cluster with extended functions. Beside a big hall for events, the cluster should include functions like a hotel with a grand café and a gallery for modern art exhibitions.

Finding appropriate ways to expand the volume of the spacious SSP Hall in the existing industrial complex of the old factory is a big part of the challenge. Any additions with volumes for a different type of use will need to respect the structure and spatial quality of the hall. The program will need to be organized in such a way that the different visitors can be separated and the different uses can function next to each other.

The studio will be a collaboration between the H&A Architectural Design studio and the Building Engineering studio (AR1A080).

TutorsNol Hermkens

Code AR1AH010Credits 10 ECTSLocation UlftExcursion Yes*Costs -

Heritage & ArchitectureMSc1 New Heritage: Cultural Event Hall - DRU

Autum

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021

*To be defined according to applicable Covid-19 measures