KAAN Architecten has completed a Visitor Center for the Netherlands American Cemetery, the only American military cemetery in the country. Engaged by the American Battle Monuments Commission, the studio’s design for the Visitor Center complements the serenity of the vast memorial.
The Netherlands American Cemetery sits in the hills of the Limburg region in Margraten, near Maastricht. An architectural addition to the cemetery, the Visitor Center is designed as a place of learning and reflection, a thoughtful space in which to cultivate an awareness of the lasting impact of WWII and commemorate those buried on the site. “This intervention does not detract from the monumental features, but architecturally complements the cemetery landscape with style and dignity,” says KAAN Architecten.
The Second World War military cemetery was originally designed by American landscape architect Michael Rapuano, American sculptor Joseph Kiselewski, and architecture firm Coolidge, Sheply, Bulfinch, and Abbott (now Shepley Bulfinch), in collaboration with local Dutch architect Alphons Boosten. Guided by the landscape setting and the site’s monumental atmosphere, KAAN Architecten placed the new building at a respectful distance from the burial ground and the cemetery’s varied structures, thereby maintaining the site’s original plan. Landscaping by Dutch architectural landscaping studio Karres en Brands helped to integrate the building into the surrounding environment.
Despite its slight distance, the Visitor Center is an integral part of the overall monument. The center’s entry plaza is defined by rows of dignified stone seating: the structure “claims its own space in the scenically choreographed setting, yet blends harmoniously into the greater whole,” says KAAN Architecten.
The pathway and plaza are recessed into the landscape, sloping gently downwards and leading to the Visitor Center’s protective fascia. The fascia’s layered concrete form has an especially pleasing aesthetic, its neutral tone in keeping with the setting. “Seen from a distance, this concrete fascia appears to float above the ground, denying a sense of scale,” says KAAN Architecten. “Inside, light slits and rounded corners enhance the perception of spaciousness.” The fascia was carefully positioned over the course of several days using a coordinated system of hydraulic jacks.
Lifting the fascia
Embedded into the sloping terrain, the building, with a gross floor area of 600 square meters (6,458 square feet), sits below ground level. Its glass walls offer a panoramic perspective, with the surrounding topography and trees enjoyed by visitors from a lower vantage point.
At the centre of the structure, walls that form a 12 x 12 meter (approx. 39 x 39 feet) square act to support the fascia’s weight. The square contains an auditorium as well as service areas and restrooms. The interior walls are paneled with rich, warm American walnut. The exterior walls provide an exhibition space that features original artefacts and personal stories. “The exhibition presents the reality and sacrifice of war, encourages reflection on the lessons of the past, and emphasizes the importance of working towards a stable and peaceful future,” says KAAN Architecten.
The Visitor Center at the Netherlands American Cemetery was inaugurated on 12th December 2023.
