Meerstad is a planned urban development located seven kilometres from the city of Groningen in the northern Netherlands. With the locality’s gradual growth, Meerstad has no defined centre. De Zwarte Hond was commissioned by real estate developer MWPO to design SuperHub Meerstad, an impressive, multifunctional, and sustainable facility that will grow and adapt with the community.

Meerstad is known for its open green spaces, including Park Meerstad, the largest public land art project in the Netherlands, and the recreational Woldmeer Lake. Initial plans for Meerstad, a sustainable and liveable community project, were being developed around 2005. Over the coming decades, approximately 5,000 new homes will be built. It is expected that De Zwarte Hond’s eye-catching SuperHub Meerstad will play a central community role in the area’s growth.

Cathedral-like structure built with CLT

SuperHub Meerstad is an expansive supermarket made entirely from wood and glass. This sustainable building represents a reinvigorated circular version of the traditional market hall space. The SuperHub’s cathedral-like appearance is a result of its supporting structure, which consists of cross-shaped cross-laminated timber (CLT) columns and beams. The large span, nine-metre ceiling height creates an exceptionally bright space that offers flexibility and the potential for future adaptations.

The wooden roof has an overhang of 5.4 meters. This substantial canopy shields the building from solar radiation and embraces the surrounding environment. In addition, De Zwarte Hond cleverly utilised cross forms that provide the building with stability, removing the need for additional wind bracing infrastructure. 

Ecological and sustainable

SuperHub’s roof is reserved for solar panels and plants that support biodiversity, attracting bees and insects.

Integrated building technologies include an air treatment system and an underground thermal energy storage system that guarantee an optimal and energy-efficient indoor climate.

The building is designed to absorb and withstand the vibrations of Groningen earthquakes (due primarily to natural gas extraction from the Groningen gas field).

Built for community and to last

SuperHub’s flexible design provides the Meerstad area with a supermarket and cafe, as well as a community meeting place. De Zwarte Hond aimed to create a pleasant and social shopping experience for residents, offering an alternative to the increasing popularity of express delivery services. SuperHub’s impressive spatial qualities are essential to fulfilling the building’s role as an inviting and multifunctional community centre. Accordingly, the supermarket is contributing to the social sustainability of Meerstad.

Built to last, SuperHub Meerstad’s design offers the potential for future reuse. De Zwarte Hond created a building that balances commercial, social, and environmental needs. Its functionality can be modified as the community’s requirements change. For instance, the building could house a community centre, a school, or even homes.

Team:
Architects: De Zwarte Hond
Collaborators: MWPO, Brands Bouw B.V., Maripaan Groep, Jumbo Supermarkten, Bureau Meerstad, Pieters Bouwtechniek, DGMR 
Photographers: Ronald Tilleman, Ronald Zijlstra

The SuperHub in Meerstad is a modern complex constructed with timber frame architecture. It is a multifunctional building that can be repurposed in the future. The design features a striking glass facade, allowing visitors to maintain a connection with the surrounding environment.

However, a glass facade can lead to overheating or unwanted sunlight shining directly on visitors. To address this, Storax was commissioned to equip the facade with Structural Aluminium Louvered Sunshades. These Icarus louvers follow the shape of the building, adding an extra dimension to the design.