City Greenhouse Rotterdam
Associate partner Vincent van der Meulen is one of the initiators of the City Greenhouse Rotterdam, which should appear in the very heart of the city.
The City Greenhouse will be a 4.500 m2 vibrant, sustainable conservatory where the urban farmer will grow organic vegetables, fruits and flowers for the local market and restaurants. Besides it will be a place where one can enjoy, taste and experience all kinds of initiatives to raise awareness on healthy eating and urban farming.
The City Greenhouse Rotterdam is one of the projects submitted for the City Initiative Rotterdam. February 14th it will be announced which 5 projects will be in the running for realisation.
Kraaijvanger: new partners, new name
Architects Vincent van der Meulen (1982) and Annemiek Bleumink (1979) have been appointed associate architects with Kraaijvanger. The appointment coincides with the rebranding of the office: Kraaijvanger Urbis will continue as Kraaijvanger.
Over the last years Vincent van der Meulen and Annemiek Bleumink have proven themselves as project architects at Kraaijvanger. Vincent van der Meulen recently received the Europe 40 under 40 award as one of the most promising architects within Europe and is amongst others architect of the new City Hall for Almelo. Annemiek Bleumink currently works on the Diepenheim project and the Groenhorst College Barneveld. With their vision, talent and professionalism Kraaijvanger expanded their team and looks with confident to the future. The new team also gives rise to a new name. As of 2012 the office will be going by the name Kraaijvanger again: short, strong and recognizable.
The appointment of the two young architects also marks the official step back of architect partner Rob Ligtvoet, who announced his retirement earlier last year. With the recent completion of the office complex for Rabobank in Utrecht, Rob Ligtvoet leaves Kraaijvanger after a long and successful career.
Dordrechts Museum nominated for European Museum of the Year
The Dordrechts Museum has been nominated for the prestigieus European Museum of the Year Award 2012. The award is given to a museum that distiguishes itself by an innovative approach to presentation. The jury was impressed by the new design and the approach of the museum.
The European Musem of the Year Award was established in 1977 and is award to two kinds of museums: exsiting museum that have been extended and refurbished in the past two years, and to new museums that have been opened during the last two years. In May 2012 it will be announced which museums can call themselves Eruopean Museum of the Year 2012.
Design City Hall Vlaardingen presented
November 29, Dirk Jan Postel (Kraaijvanger) presented the Definite Design for the new City Hall of Vlaardingen (the Netherlands).
Instead of replacing the old city hall, the buildng will be reused, extended and refurbished with great attention for susbtainability and environment. The renovated building will offer an inviting public hall and a modern working environment for the central administration of the municipality.
Building completion is scheduled for November 2013.
Blok A winkelcentrum De Promesse Lelystad geopend
November 2, Block A in shopping center De Promesse in Lelystad (the Netherlands) has been opened. The block of shops is the last building to be realised in a series of buildings in the city center.
The project designed by Dirk Jan Postel connects to the existing shopping area and forms an important link in the continuity of the shopping circuit.
The main function of the building consists of shops: smaller units on the ground floor, larger units on the second floor with additional office space on the second floor.
Education facilities De Markiezaten officially inaugurated
Thursday, October 13th the multi-educational facility De Markiezaten in Bergen op Zoom (the Netherlands) was officially inaugurated.
The building designed by Hans Goverde houses a primary school, special education facilities, child care and a preschool. The initiative to combine various forms of education offered a excellent opportunity to create a new center as social heart of area where pupils and residents can meet.
In the design the natural slope with a decline of 4 meters litteraly runs through the building, which creates attractive entrances, a bright central foyer and an exciting outdoor space.
Festive inauguration muncipal office Haren
September 10 the new town hall for Haren (the Netherlands) has been officially inaugurated. After a speech by architect Dirk Jan Postel of Kraaijvanger, the Queen's Commissioner Max van den Berg revealed a poem especially written for the occasion.
The 4.100 m2 building is characterized by its flowing lines and modest design. The green nature of the building is emphasized by large pots with trees on the balconies, which change color with the seasons. Inside, the 3-storey high green wall in the public hall immediately catches the eye.
The building blends into the building block, but at the same time its function as town hall is instantly clear: transparent, inviting and efficient, where sustainability is incorporated in a special way.
Preliminairy Design City Hall Almelo approved
The Town Council of Almelo has approved the preliminairy design of the new City Hall, designed by Vincent van der Meulen.
The city hall will be located on a large square along the water in a green setting. The transparent, inviting public hall of the city hall guides the pedestrian route between the town center and the central station. All public and representative functions are located in the low-rise, offices and restaurant are located in the high rise. Parking facilities are located on the roof, which mainly will be executed as a green roof. The two towers are situated around a communal open space which functions as a meeting area. The split level floors are connected by stairs. The south facade offers protection against the sun; the north facades are transparent, opening up towards the city.
The Final Design will be presented in March 2012. City Hall is expected to be completed mid 2014.
International award for Vincent van der Meulen
Associate partner Vincent van der Meulen (29) has been chosen as one of the fourty most important upcoming young European architects, as was announced this week by the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies and the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design. The laureates are awarded to the next generation of designers that according to the international jury will have a major impact on the future of the living and working environment of Europe.
Vincent van der Meulen, who is associate partner at Kraaijvanger Urbis since 2010, specializes in innovative buildings that are highly sustainable. His work is characterized by a constant search to find new ways of making cities and buildings completely sustainable.
The work of the laureates will be exhibited during the 13th International Biennial of Architecture in Buenos Aires, beginning of October. Afterwards the exhibition will travel along several European cities.
Festive inauguration bicycle garage Nieuwegein
In the presence of architects Annemiek Bleumink of Kraaijvanger and Donald Osborne, alderman Lubbinge of the Municipality Nieuwegein officially inaugurated the new bicylce garage De Snelbinder in Nieuwegein (the Netherlands). The bicycle garage is the first project in a series of buildings that will be realised in the coming years in downtown Nieuwegein. Bleumink and Osborne won a contest to give young talent a chance to contribute to the development of the new city center.
The contrasting materials of the parking refer to both the front and back identitiy of the location. The building is a reflection of its surrounding solidified in time. The colored facade of perforated metal makes it a robust, light-absorbing volume. The white section in the façade lights up the entrance and the public space in front. The expanded metal is used in such way that the garage from the outside appears to be a massive volume; the inside however is light and transparant. The compact volume can accommodate nearly 400 bikes
Image (c)KenM
"Vernufteling" nomination for Zero Energy Floating House
The Zero-energy floating house is one of the 18 nominees for "de Vernufteling" - an award given to innovative engineering design solutions.
The Floating House combines several proven sustainability techniques, resulting in a completely self sufficient house.
The Floating House (which earlier this year received an award as the most sustainable house in the Netherlands) is developed by Kraaijvanger in collaboration with DGMR engneers, Dura Vermeer, Giesbers& van der Graaf and ITHO.
Ontwerp popcentrum Doornroosje op locatie voormalig TPG terrein in Nijmegen
Het programma op de voormalig TPG-locatie aan het stationsplein is ambitieus en gedurfd. Aan de noordzijde van het stationsensemble completeert een kleurrijke gevel het oorspronkelijke ontwerp van Van Ravensteijn. In de expressieve en transparante plint is de nieuwe huisvesting van popcentrum Doornroosje opgenomen. Boven twee popzalen, foyers en backstageprogramma vormt een solide woonvolume met 350 studentenkamers een nieuw beeldbepalend element in de stad. Deze opbouw omsluit een groen binnenhof op de complexe binnenstedelijke locatie. Tevens is in het souterrain een openbare fietsenstalling ontworpen, welke verbonden is met het stationsgebied.
Kraaijvanger Urbis partner Rob Ligtvoet to retire
With the recent completion of the Rabobank administration center in Utrecht, architect Rob Ligtvoet will officially leave Kraaijvanger after a long and successful career. Rob Ligtvoet started his long career with Kraaijvanger in 1975. In 1982 he joined the board as partner.
As partner at Kraaijvanger he signed for a large number of prominent public buildings, including the office building "De Haagse Poort for Nattionale Nederlanden in The Hague, the Esso Benelux headquarters and the Turfschip in Breda and the office buildings Westgate I & II in Amsterdam. In addition, Rob Ligtvoet was closely involved in the renovation of several postwar monumental Kraaijvanger buildings in Rotterdam, including the Chamber of Commerce and concert and convention center De Doelen.
Festive inauguration offices Rabobank Utrecht
Following the general assembly the new office center for Rabobank in Utrecht (the Netherlands) designed by Kraaijvanger was officially inaugurated.
Leading in the development of the new office building was sustainability: not only during construction and in the choise of material, but also water and energy consumption and climate controle. With the completion of the office tower Kraaijvanger realised one of the most sustainable office buildings in the Netherlands.
Rob Ligtvoet and Dick Baggerman of Kraaijvanger were in charge of the design of the striking 105 meter high building.
Kraaijvanger to design new town hall Almelo
Kraaijvanger has been commissioned the design of the new city hall of Almelo (the Netherlands). The office was chosen out of 7 offices, presenting their design vision on the new city hall.
According to the jury the approach presented by Kraaijvanger reflected best the expectations and requirements of the municipality. The jury was especially impressed by the leading role of the office in the fields of sustainability and innovative office concepts.
Architects Vincent van der Meulen and Dirk Jan Postel will be in charge of the design. Construction of the new city hall is expected to start end of 2012.
Start construction Fioretti College
May 30 the construction of the Fioretti College in Hillegom (the Netherlands) has officially started. With the realisation of a new school the Fioretti College will complete the transition from a clasic school to a school that will facilitate new teaching methodes with open education spaces, grouped around a central atrium.
The Fioretti College designed by architect Hans Goverde will not only house educational functions, but also a ballet and music school, a new sports hall, an activity center for the young disabled and in the near future also an after school care center for elementary pupils.
The Fioretti College will be completed mid August 2012.
Festive inauguration Raaks Haarlem
Wednesday, May 25, elderman Ewout Cassee of the Haarlem Planning office and Cees van Boven - director Development of MAB officially opened the inner city area Raaks in Haarlem.
The urban plan of Hans Goverde (Kraaijvanger) and Donald Lambert is a subtle extension of the inner city of Haarlem. A dense network of streets, squares and courtyards naturally connect the Raaks area with the old town. The scale of the architecture and materials are typical for Haarlem: brick, wood and detailing appropriate to the sensitivity of the inner city.
A striking cubic glass pavilion on a small square adjacent to an old church marks the transition from the old to the new town. The small pavilion is special due to the all glass construction.
The opening marks the end of nearly fourteen years of planning and building. Besides Kraaijvanger several other architects (including Bolles + Wilson, Crepain Binst Architect and Claus & Kaan) worked on the architectural elaboration of the plan.
Official kick off start construction of high school
By unveiling the project board at the building site, the construction of two new high school buildings for the CSG Liudger in Drachten (The Netherlands) was officially kicked off. The project designed by architect Hans Goverde will be realised in two phases.
The Municipality approaved the development of the two high school buildings for CSG Liudger end of 2010. With the start of construction of the first building at location Splitting, the 1st phase of the project has started. The building will be completed mid 2012, after which the construction of second building at location Raai will start. The 18.000 m2 project will facilitate appr. 2.200 students and will be completed in 2014.
Ground breaking ceremony City Hall Utrecht
In the presence of the director of the Dutch National Raiway NS and the station area councillor of the Utrecht Municipality the construction of the Utrecht City Council was officially kicked off.
During the event a blimp was launched to a height of 92 meter: the height of actual building once it will be completed.
The building designed by Dirk Jan Postel in collaboration with Christian Müller has a total surface of 66.000 m2,with an eminent entrance at the Jaarbeurs side of Utrecht Central Station, one of the busiest public traffic hubs in the Netherlands.
The Utrecht City Hall is one of the largest buildings that will be built in the Netherlands in the next three years. The building will offer 3.500 workplaces, 2.200 parking places for bikes and approximately 270 office related parking lots. Also the interior will be designed by Kraaijvanger. Completion is sceduled for 2014.
RTV Utrecht: Eerste paal stadskantoor Utrecht
BREEAM certificate for City hall Utrecht
During the official start of construction of the new Utrecht city hall, Stefan van Uffelen - director of the Dutch Green Building Council - presented a BREEAM design certificate to alderman Victor Everhardt of the Utrecht Municipality.
The construction of the complex and ambitious city hall is part of the redevelopment of the Utrecht Central Station aea - one of six goverment-appointed New Key projects (NSP) with high ambitions concerning sustainability.
With a surface of 66.000 m2 the City Hall is the largest building which has been given a BREEAM certificate by the DGBC. The project will be completed mid 2014.
Kraaijvanger to design agriculture colleges
Annemiek Bleumink and Vincent van der Meulen of Kraaijvanger have been commissioned to design the new Groenhorst College (GHC) and the Christian Agriculture High school (CAH) in Almere (the Netherlands) Objective is to realise a combined accomodation for both educational institutions at one location in Almere Poort.
The new 6.000 m2 building (with the option of a future extension of several thousand m2) will accommodate 1.200 students. The new facility will act as a testing ground for the implementation of functional green in the urban environment. The combination of both institutions is unique, and links theoretical and practical education to nature, building and the built environment with sustainability as major theme.
In addition to the theoretical and practical spaces, the complex includes an open learning centre, offices, an large atrium with a restaurant, several meeting rooms and 3.000 m2 parking. Approximately 25 % of the building will be equipped for communal use. Kraaijvanger • Urbis acquired the assignment for the design of the CAH and the GHC in Almere after winning the European Procurement issued by the Group Aeres Ede.
Kraaijvanger proposes underground extension town hall Bloemendaal
As one of the five architectural practises invited by the Municipality of Bloemendaal (the Netherlands), Kraaijvanger made a proposal for the renovation and extension of the Bloemendaal town hall.
As one of the 5 architects invited by the municipality of Bloemendaal Kraaijvanger presented their proposal for the renovation and extension of the town hall of Bloemendaal. The existing building was outdated, and besides the municipality had decided to centralise all municipality functions on one location, which made an limited extension necessary.
The design by Dirk Jan Postel of Kraaijvanger proposes to extend the building at the front, embedded in the natural slope of the surrounding landscape. On the one hand, the existing qualities of the monumental building are maintained. On the other hand, it allows the extended building to open up towards the road as a dynamic, asymmetric counterpart of the old building majestic building. This creates transparency, accessibility, modernity, and allows the buidling to maintain its status quo.
The five presentation including the proposal of Dirk Jan Postel, can be viewed at the website of the Municipality of Bloemendaal.
High sustainability score for Rabobank Administrative Center
The new administrative center for Rabobank in Utrecht – designed by Rob Ligtvoet van Kraaijvanger – is one of the most sustainable office buildings in the Netherlands according to "GPR-Gebouw" – a tool to compare quality and sustainability features of buildings. In the competition “Most sustainable office building in the Netherlands – a competition launched by Dutch specialist magazine “The Engineer” and Dutch national radio program “Vroege Vogels”- the building for now is rated second.
All submissions have been rated and compared according to "GPR-gebouw". The new administrative center for Rabobank took the highest score in 3 of the 5 categories: health, users quality and prospective value. In the overall score, the project takes for now a second shared place. March 20 the jury will announce which building can call itself the “Most sustainable office building in the Netherlands”.
The Rabobank administrative center is currently under construction and will be completed mid 2011.
Kraaijvanger first Dutch architect with CO2 Awareness Certificate
Kraaijvanger as the first architectural firms in the Netherlands has achieved the CO2 Awareness Certificate, level 3. Kraaijvanger receives the CO-2 Awareness Certificate for its ambition and effort to reduce its own CO2 production and energy consumption. The certification is part of the active environmental policy of Kraaijvanger and is an investment in the further preservation of its own organisation.
Kraaijvanger has committed itself to improve relevant business processes in order to unremittingly reduce its carbon footprint. The office amongst others has committed itself to reduce its energy consumption and CO2 emission by at least 20% in the coming 10 years, conform European targets. Based on the CO2 Performance Scale of ProRail the energy consumption has been made visible, and reduction targets have been set, focussing on electricity, fuel, paper and vehicles, but also on work processes.
With the CO2 certification, climate transparency and Corporate Social Responsibility are being further embedded within the organization of Kraaijvanger, and we want both our employees and our suppliers and clients to be clear that a conscious environmental policy forms an integral part of the corporate policy of Kraaijvanger.
Floating sustainable living by Vincent van der Meulen awarded for most sustainable home in the Netherlands.
Wednesday December 15th, the Natuhome Award was presented at the Assemburg Castle in Heemskerk (The Netherlands). From the many submissions the jury chose the floating house of Team 4D as the most sustainable home in the Netherlands. Team 4D consists of Kraaijvanger • Urbis, DGMR, Giesbers & Van der Graaf bv and ITHO.
The floating home has two types of facades: a shell that protects against the sun and a conservatory that opens up towards the sun. This way warmth can be absorbed, or kept outside. A sun loving and a sun shunning side. By rotating the house according to the seasons the heat load can be reduced by 40% and the cooling load by 90%. Activities that require heating are situated upstairs; those that thrive in cool downstairs, thus the house makes use of naturally rising warm air.
All functional spaces and technical installations are placed in the core of the house. The sustainable techniques applied are no-nonsense, self-evident and communicative in order to promote and stimulate a sustainable life style. 63 % of the weight of the construction material consists of C2C-certified materials; 28% of fully recyclable materials. The floating home is a remarkable house designed around experiencing water. A house that contributes to a cleaner surrounding by (vertical) gardens. The house produces energy to recharge an electrical car. It is a house open to new developments and above all, a fantastic house to live in.
Currently team 4D is collaborating with the city district Oost-Amsterdam on the realisation of the water house.
competition Place Lalla Yeddouna
End 2010 Kraaijvanger • Urbis participated in the competition for the redevelopment of Place Lalla Yeddouna, an area of appr. 7,400 m2 situated in the Medina of Fez in Morocco and since 1981 on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
The Lalla Yeddouna is a strategically location in the heart of the ancient town Fez. The Medina is the centre for traditional crafts (including many tanners) and consists of a mosaic of small, modest, sand-coloured dwellings. It is an endless labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys. This part of the town has a long history and is concealed in mystery.
Kraaijvanger • Urbis designs refurbishment for the campus of Groenhorst college Barneveld
The commission consists of a landscape design of 4.5 hectares including a vision for the student accommodation, renovating and refurbishing the existing buildings (9,000 m2) and realising new/replacement apprenticeship facilities at the Groenhorst College site (1,000 m2). Groenhorst College Barneveld (GHC Barneveld) provides upper secondary vocational and university study programmes for animal care and veterinary support, contract work and horse and cattle farm management. A university study programme in Animal and Healthcare can be followed after completing the upper secondary vocational study programme at GHC Barneveld. In addition, the Practical Training Centrum
Dierverzorging (PTC Dierverzorging; Animal Care Apprenticeship Training Centre) is also located here for apprenticeship training with regard to caring for farm animals, horses, household pets, exotic and foreign animal species from pre-vocational secondary education up to university level. The Cursuscentrum Dierverzorging Barneveld (CDB; Barneveld Animal Care Course Centre) is also located here for professionals and private individuals who work in the animal care field.
Annemiek Bleumink
David Hess
Frank Hendriks
Paul Schurink
Roos Cornelissen
Province Government Building Noord-Holland receives sustainability certificate
The project has been earmarked by the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM), WWI (Wonen, Wijken en Integratie; Living, Neighbourhoods and Integration), as an example project for offices with regard to energy and climate.
A total of 6.5 million euros has been made available in subsidies for extremely energy efficient practical projects through the UPK NESK (Unieke Kansen Programma Naar Energieneutrale Scholen en Kantoren; Unique Opportunity Programme to Obtain Energy-neutral Schools and Offices).
The Ministry of VROM wishes to stimulate the sector with this tender with regard to the turnaround towards energy-neutral building.
The EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) of the Houtplein provincial government office building in Haarlem will show a reduction from 1.7 to 0.5 due to significant renovation work. This is possible through an integral approach by architect Kraaijvanger •
Urbis, consultants and a design team. The project, for example, includes triple glazing, thermal storage,
a low-temperature heating system/high-temperature cooling system and a green roof and walls and it uses rainwater.
Verhuur ontwerpruimte
In een voormalig filtergebouw in Kralingen zijn twee ontwerpbureaus gevestigd. Er is nog een ruimte van 200 m2 beschikbaar, geschikt voor 15-25 werkplekken. In deze inspirerende werkomgeving kan indien gewenst gebruik gemaakt worden van: receptie, repro, maquettebouwruimte, ict, catering, kantoormeubilair.
Neem contact op met: Lisa Martin (tel: 010-4989211)