Architects: atelier PRO
Location: Grote Kerkhof 4, 7411 KT Deventer, The Netherlands
Project Architect: Dorte Kristensen
Project Team: Thijs Klinkhamer, Regien Kroeze, Mark Bruin, Ron Bruin, Priet Jokhan
Area: 24000.0 sqm
Project Year: 2016
Photographs: Eva Bloem
Interior Architects: Wessel Reinders, Naomi Schiphorst, Susan Vlemminx
Interior Contractors: Harryvan Slochteren , Keijsers Lundiform
Architect New Part: Michiel Riedijk, Neutelings Riedijk Architects
Landscape Design: bureau Bosch Slabbers Den Haag/Middelburg, Jan van Minnebruggen
Installation Systems And Lighting Advise: Hiensch Engineering, Badhoevedorp
Structural Engineer: Aronsohn Constructie, Rotterdam
Project Management: Rob Verberne, Hester Scholten
Contractor: BAM Utiliteitsbouw regio Noordoost, Bunnik
Signage: Signplan | way-finding, ruimtenummers, bordjes en folies
Atelier PRO architects have been selected to create the interior design for the new Town Hall Quarter in Deventer. The Deventer municipality has opted for flexibility, sustainability, cooperation and interaction as the major basic principles for this interior.
The Town Hall Quarter is situated between the Grote Kerkhof, Polstraat, Burseplein and Assenstraat. The plan partly entails new build (about 19,500 m² Gross Floor Area (GFA)) and partly renovation, restoration and preservation of existing national monuments (about 4,500 m² GFA). The striking new build part, according to the design by Neutelings Riedijk architects, respectfully conforms to the existing historic buildings. The municipality aims to set a good example in the field of sustainable building and realized a building with a BREEAM-score excellent.
Democracy and public administration
In Deventer, democracy and public administration have been connected to this wonderful site for centuries. The new building signifies a huge quality improvement, not only for the municipal organization, but also for the inner city quality of this location. With this Town Hall Quarter, the municipality unites its own organization at the Grote Kerkhof, and in addition creates a central meeting point. The public spaces are therefore equipped to make them suitable for exhibitions, debates and symposiums. The interior design plays a leading role in this concept.
Activity-based working places
In this new office environment, the municipality has chosen for a flexible office arrangement in the interior. This working place concept that is related to activities, contributes to a new way of working in which innovative, participative and result-oriented working forms central stage. The staff members can work in a flexible way and without fixed places and times. In the atelier PRO architects’ design, orientation has been linked with interior specials which form recognizable meeting places. Following the historic buildings, the use of colours are a reflection of 17th century pigments which came to light after researching old paint layers, such as ultramarine blue, indigo, umber, madder and lead-tin yellow.
Peace of mind
Moreover, atelier PRO has developed ‘The New Waiting’ concept and introduced this in the public hall. The comfort of the interior reveals itself in accordance with the waiting time, so that a waiting place can be chosen that suits the serenity level. Practical furniture for visitors who are in hurry, and a softer interior for quiet places where people have to stay longer. Thus the functional arrangement of the public hall is related to the various activities, for which perceptibility, clear organization and obvious waiting time indications are of major importance. Hence, the interior design supports the operational management and high level of service and hospitality of the municipality of Deventer.
Fingerprint
Visual artist Loes ten Anscher developed aluminum window frames out of the fingerprints belonging to hundreds of Deventer inhabitants. Their thumb, finger or even their toe got an eternal place in the new building. In total 2300 Deventen citizens were invited to hand in their fingerprint. All fingerprint scans were turned into a fingerprint clay mold. In the foundry the clay molds turned into sand molds, that were filled with fluid aluminum. After the aluminum being cooled the window frame was finished.