DIVIDED CONNECTION

  • Provincie Noord-Holland
  • Haarlem
  • NL
  • 1995
  • i.c.w. Toornend & Partners b.v.

The project concerns a study into the spatial possibilities that the existing administrative building of the province Noord-Holland, the pavilion ‘Welgelegen’, offers in relation to required programmatical improvement and extension. The project concentrates on improving the infrastructure, realization of a new entrance and addition of a new restaurant and several meeting rooms. The project aims at a modest, but self-evident spatial intervention that respects and enhances the architectural quality and spatial structure and layout of the existing buildings.

The new entrance pavilion is located between the existing buildings, connecting the now separated infrastructure of both buildings. The pavilion is designed as a self-contained architectural object that continues the historical development of different buildings within the urban complex. Its clearly new facade both refers to and twists the classical appearance of the adjacent buildings. The open base indicates the new central entrance and offers a view at the beautiful garden. The apparently closed brick volume on top hides the spatial complexity of the interior infrastructure by day, but appears to be almost diaphanous at night.

The programmatical additions are specifically situated around the new continuous infrastructure. The direct and simple spatial relations between the different spaces, both existing and new, are aimed at a self-evident integration of all parts of the complex.

A series of vertical and horizontal ‘voids’ both complicates, manifests and enhances the spatial relations and dynamics in between new infrastructure, added space and existing spatial structure. On one hand they define a number of specific places within the complex and manifest differences of existing and new parts of the building. On the other hand they define a continuous spatial structure and dynamics that ‘swirls’ around the new central hall, that guides and defines the most important routes and, again, defines the spatial unity of the complex.