The Protestant Community joins forces with housing association Vivare, in order to explore expansion on inner-city grounds in Elst. There are community buildings and a few homes on the intended site next to the Grote Kerk on the St Maartenstraat.
My assignment is to investigate the urban context, and propose a structural vision on the approximately 6000 m2 planning area.
The resulting spatial models offer an input to the exploration of a feasible program. The idea is to create common grounds for further design.
The design research leads to, among other things, to a proposal that refers to the pre-Christian temple excavations made here.
An (open) court complex is preferred by the main users of the complex, because part of the well-loved and well-functioning buildings are preserved in this model.
In front of the nave and the tower of the church a distinct spatial context appears, which also determines the location on a supra-local scale.
The new building structure offers varied access to the housing of both the existing community and additional residential features.
The services and activities in the church building combine with the near proximity of the more compact city centre. The tree covered parking hubs on the open-armed square and along the southern edges of the site are feasible answers to the requirements of both mobility and a lush natural environment.
To be continued