Mercado in Groningen / De Zwarte Hond + Loer Architecten

Mercado in Groningen / De Zwarte Hond + Loer Architecten

Textual content description supplied by the architects. With the completion of Mercado and the redevelopment of Rode Weeshuisstraat, Groningen metropolis heart’s north aspect will get a brand new increase. The constructing, along with the brand new Stalplein subsequent to it, embodies an city transformation geared in direction of pedestrians and encounters. The design of Mercado and the city plan for Rode Weeshuisstraat have been created by the architectural collaboration of De Zwarte Hond and Loer Architecten on behalf of builders MWPO and Beauvast. Mercado contains a monumental plinth with 41 sustainable residences above it, constructed by Plegt-Vos.

Revitalizing town heart’s north aspect. Within the new city improvement plan, Rode Weeshuisstraat is now not the again of Grote Markt however the entrance of town heart’s north aspect. As well as, vehicles will give solution to pedestrians, and Mercado – changing a former V&D division retailer warehouse – creates area for a brand new metropolis sq. with a extra compact footprint. The redesign of the road is mixed with a beneficiant 6-metre-high clear plinth, which, along with the brand new sq., creates a gathering place.

When it comes to scale, Mercado varieties the hyperlink between Grote Markt and Rode Weeshuisstraat. The buildings on Grote Markt are of a bigger scale than these on the north aspect of Rode Weeshuisstraat, together with the Weeshuis (orphanage) itself. Mercado combines these scales in its stepped quantity, which is excessive the place doable and decrease the place essential. The result’s a constructing that matches completely into town heart by way of scale but has its personal identification.

Craft and character. Mercado’s facade is made out of ceramic parts. In shut collaboration with ceramic producer NBK and facade builder Bijlbouw, samples and mock-ups have been used to seek out the right blue-green glaze for the facade with its custom-made particulars. Because of this glaze, the constructing seems a distinct coloration in each kind of climate, and a layering of coloration and type might be discerned including a contact of artistry that refers back to the richness of Groningen’s historic buildings and the optimistic rawness of post-war structure. The reconstruction structure on Grote Markt is characterised by glass, precast concrete, and pure stone, whereas the orphanage stands out with its ornaments and stucco facades in pastel shades. Mercado, with its beige clay and semi-transparent glaze, blends in nicely with each the pastel Weeshuis and the post-war block’s stone-like supplies.

Versatile, sustainable, and nature-inclusive. The bottom ground has been future-proofed by inserting stairs and elevators to the aspect of the constructing. This creates an open, monumental area that may be flexibly configured for public occasions. Beneath the constructing, there are wells for a thermal vitality system (TES). Together with warmth pumps, all the constructing is pure gas-free.

The vertical backyard alongside the facade offers the constructing with 3.800 crops and contributes to biodiversity. On the south facade, climbing crops cowl the balconies like inexperienced privateness screens. The constructing’s stepped quantity offers area for roof terraces the place colourful crops and timber are a part of the design. Particular planters have been designed for Mercado with a singular coloration scheme to match the constructing. Each the rooftop terraces and facade gardens are watered by a computerized system and frequently maintained by a gardener.

Profitable transformation. In 5 years, Rode Weeshuisstraat has reworked from a darkish aspect road into a singular assembly place. Frank Loer (Loer Architecten) and Henk Stadens (De Zwarte Hond) state: “The city plan offers town heart’s north aspect the sophistication it deserves. Mercado and the redesigned Rode Weeshuisstraat give town heart a lift. The monumental plinth, greenery, and ceramic facade add an distinctive high quality to the middle of Groningen.”