Dirk Jan • Postel

The assignment comprises the expansion and renovation of the Museum Kranenburgh building, as well as the design of the sculpture park. The project is situated in an extremely green, woody area on the outskirts of the artists’ colony of Bergen. Museum Kranenburgh is currently located in a 19th-century villa (520 m²) and will be expanded to the rear of the building to a total floor space of approximately 2,700 m². In view of the stringent requirements of the zoning plan, part of the expansion has been accommodated below-ground.

The situation prompts one to adopt a modest approach: building behind the villa, whilst retaining the surrounding woodlands. The design therefore consists of a single storey, with several exhibition areas located below-ground.
The curious occasional form of the zoning plan retroactively developed into the design strategy for the building: a labyrinth that steadily expands the closer one approaches the rear of the structure. Space that reveals more and becomes increasingly clear to the unsuspecting museum visitor the further he or she penetrates the building.

 

year
2009 - 2011

project team
Annemiek Bleumink