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A welcoming pavilion for Hoge Veluwe National Park

The new Park Pavilion in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, designed by De Zwarte Hond and Monadnock, offers visitors a warm welcome and adds an extra dimension to their visit.

The pavilion has a restaurant, a park shop and accommodates education and reception areas. In the elongated and curved central space – with a crackling fire at one end on cold days – visitors can admire the light projections on the vaulted ceiling. The new building is a striking landmark in the middle of the forest and is an ideal base for a day out in the Hoge Veluwe.

A key point of departure for the architects was that the entire building must form an integral part of the landscape and the park experience. This is not only reflected in the design itself, but also in the collaboration with lighting specialists and interior designers. The entire building reflects the direct connection with the surrounding natural landscape of the Hoge Veluwe.

 

Country house in an open space in the forest:

The Hoge Veluwe National Park is not only a 5.400-hectare nature reserve, but also the home of the Sint Hubertus hunting lodge (Berlage) and the Kröller-Müller Museum (Van de Velde / Quist). Visitors can enjoy nature, art and architecture. The Park Pavilion is set in an open space in the heart of the park and is reminiscent of a country house. When approached from the narrow end, the building’s silhouette with its distinctive double roof can be seen between the trees from a long distance away. Behind this, the building evolves into an unusual, curved form, with a more intimate scale. A large glass façade over the entire length presents a magnificent view of the splendid surroundings and, due to its low eaves, it is here that the large building is modest and on a human scale. The central space extends along the glass wall, a large lounge with a stylish, central staircase and, at the end, the large hearth.

Here, under the imposing, arched ceiling, are the information desk, the park gift shop and the restaurant. The visitor is guided through the building in a naturally intuitive way. On the woodland side of the building the façade itself is more enclosed, but the large balcony commands a splendid view of the forest edge. The Park Pavilion is a welcoming, intimate place where, after a long walk, visitors can relax in the restaurant, enjoy a drink in a sitting area, or rest in the sun with a view of the surrounding nature.

 

Interior enhances perception

Like the building itself, the interior forms an alliance with the surrounding landscape. Visitors entering the high space with curved walls will be surprised at how the glass wall presents an ever-changing view of the Veluwe. Above their heads, the vaulted ceiling extends over the entire length of the space.

Nine chandeliers project a magical pattern on the ceiling. This light installation, designed by Beersnielsen lighting designers, is based on an algorithm of the sun shining through the leaves – an example of biophilic design. The shadow patterns draw nature into the building and form a connection between the physical and the virtual world. "A place where you feel at home" – that was an important point of departure for the interior design.

The architects responded by designing intimate recesses in the glass façade and, on the short side of the building − a large fireplace with comfortable chairs. The free-standing interior elements were designed in close collaboration with Vos Interieur. These, too, reflect the surrounding nature, for example by using rough, but rich, natural materials such as leather and oak, materials that only increase in beauty with the passing of time and even enhance the building’s distinguished character.

For the restaurant Vos Interieur designed tables and wooden benches with service units at the ends of the benches. Each bench consists of three segments that can also be assembled in a different configuration. Piet Hein Eek was responsible for the design of the individual chairs and Bolidt, together with the architects, for a new type of poured floor with richly-nuanced colours.

 

Important step in the park’s renovation

The flexibly-adjustable Park Pavilion is multi-functional and has solar panels and heat and cold storage. Carefully-chosen materials and meticulous detailing make the building sustainable and low maintenance. The construction of the pavilion is a milestone in the large-scale renovation of the park’s central area. And the events site, recreation area, access roads, cycle tracks and car park have all been reorganised. Furthermore, in the future the orientation of the bicycle parking facility will be changed and the entrances and − eventually − the underground museum, the Museonder, will be renovated. H+N+S Landschapsarchitecten is responsible for the landscape plan.

Project credits

Architects
Architect

Product spec sheet

Acoustic plaster

Project data

Project Year
2019

The Park Pavilion - De Hoge Veluwe National Park

The new Park Pavilion of The National Park De Hoge Veluwe is part of the new heart of the park; the place where visitors will start their journey, meet and will experience the beauty of nature, art and architecture. The new building will accommodate the Park Restaurant, an information desk, a variety of conference rooms and the Park shop. The new building thus replaces the old park restaurant and some facilities of the existing visitor center that were no longer meeting the current requirements for receiving the 600.000 people visiting the Park annually. The new multifunctional building will form an inspiring unity with the landscape. The design is by the architects Monadnock / De Zwarte Hond. The landscapedesign is by H+N+S Landscape architects, the prohect management is by the Antea Group.

 

The building represents the hospitality of the 5.400-hectare nature reserve. The relationship between the building and the landscape, combined with a warm welcome, were the most important offsets for the client. In a central, open space in the vast forest, the new building forms a solid landmark, which is very carefully embedded in its surroundings. The building is reminiscent of a country house. By approach, the silhouet is visible from afar, with a distinctive double roof shape.

 

The building subsequently develops into a curved shape, wia more intimate scale. The curved shape has a large glass façade, offering a magnificent view of the beautiful surroundings. It is here that the building is intimate and welcoming due to the low roofline. Internally, the central space extends along the entire length of the building along the glass wall. In this space you can find the information desk, the park shop and the restaurant under the impressive curved ceiling. The reception areas are on the first floor on the forest side of the building, where the facade is more closed.

 

The experience of the national park is enhanced by combining the majestic view of the surrounding landscape with changing projections on the curved ceiling, designed by BeersNielsen. An interesting link is made here between reality and the virtual world, between nature and culture, between recreation and education. In close collaboration with lighting designers Beersnielsen and interior designer Bart Vos, an enchanting dimension is added to the interior. 

Brand description
Monadnock is a Rotterdam based architecture practice, active in designing, researching, writing and conversing within the field of architecture, urbanism, interior and staging. This includes the space of the street, the city and the interior. Monadnock works on contemporary buildings, consciously embedding architecture in the cultural production of our generation by examining themes such as the contemporary & tradition, convention & banality, constructive logic & illusionary representation. Intrigued by the use of historical precedents as well as contemporary visual culture, handicraft & technology and seeking interaction with other disciplines. Monadnock aims for an architecture that combines beauty, efficiency and the transfer of architectural knowledge. Monadnock is internationally known for realizing tailor-made contemporary buildings, among which a considerable number of public buildings. Such as a beach pavilion on the River Maas and a huge 'Make No Little Plans' installation. Currently, Monadnock is involved in the design process of a new visitors’ centre for De Hoge Veluwe National Park, a tower-house and several housing projects.
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