POLO selected as architect for Beerse’s new services centre
Today the local council of Beerse presented the preliminary design for its new Municipal Services Centre, the result of a collaborative partnership between Groep Van Roey and POLO. Grown out of a diverse programme aimed at optimally serving the needs of the community, the daring new building is set to become a sustainable and welcoming home for both the civil servants and residents of Beerse.
The service centre combines the functions of town hall and cultural centre, connecting old and new, administration and citizen to forge an alliance which is more than the sum of its parts. The design team used the programmatic duality and diversity of functions to create a striking and inviting building which inspires a new cultural dynamism, embedded in a climate-robust landscape.
A monument as solid base
The municipal administration finds a new home within the walls of the 'Moederhuis' (the old maternity hospital, St. Joseph's Clinic), a familiar sight for many Beerse residents. With a thorough renovation of the interior structure and an upgrade of its energy performance, we are breathing new life into this distinctive brick building and ensure its preservation for future generations.
An extension that connects
A contemporary extension houses the cultural and leisure facilities and folds over the heritage building in a protective embrace. In its design and materialisation this volume establishes a feather-light contrast to the rather introverted Moederhuis. Large glass surfaces open up the building to the public and towards the park. The shimmering, champagne-coloured surfaces of the perforated metal façade form a subtle transition between the green landscape and the red brick façade of the Moederhuis.
An open invitation
Visitors enter the building via a glazed area which opens up between Moederhuis and extension. With sweeping views of the greenery, the building reveals itself here as a gateway to the Echelpoel park beyond, in a space that is further defined by a lively tension between old and new. This lobby area with temporary exhibitions and info points allows visitors straightforward acces to the different facilities. Municipal services in the Moederhuis and cultural facilities in the extension can be reached directly and in a barrier-free manner.
A revalued landscape
The new building seizes the opportunity to reinterpret and revalue the surrounding landscape. The existing beech-lined driveway is transformed into a stately approach to the building entrance. The forecourt of the Moederhuis is depaved and regreened, but the layout with concentric circles is retained as a subtle echo of the past. New water features buffer precious rainwater and combine with native plants to create a robust landscape, primed to take on future climate challenges. New play areas and outdoor workspaces are provided near the extension, creating synergies with adjacent indoor spaces.
A green heart for the community
By concentrating various municipal services in one historically rich location, Beerse has created a unique opportunity for itself. This design revitalises a treasured heritage building and complements it with a striking extension, which in turn shines a spotlight on the forgotten potential of the park Echelpoel. As such this special location becomes an exceptional meeting place for the community, a new green heart for the municipality.
Team: POLO, Groep Van Roey, OMGEVING, Tractebel
For: The municipality of Beerse
Images made by LLUM