Management, preservation, and reuse of monumental heritage
De onvoorstelbaar rijke kwaliteiten van de historische, gelaagde kracht van het Hembrugterrein. Buitendijks ontstaan land, met een diversiteit aan gebouwen, dynamische en verstilde plekken en sprookjesachtige bossferen dat zijn gelijke in Nederland niet kent. Wij zijn van mening dat het samenspel tussen alle gebouwen op het terrein samen met het bos, het stoere waterfront aan het Noordzeekanaal en het intieme waterfront aan Zijkanaal G, bijdraagt aan deze unieke sfeer.
Project info
HEMbrug contains a number of monumental structures in different layers, such as hiding tunnels, bunkers, and the above-ground steam pipeline network that is visible across a large part of the site. These are historical elements that tell the story of the site and are important for its exciting atmosphere. These structures are being preserved and made recognizable again by giving them a place in public spaces. By adding new elements, such as lookout towers, water structures, and (flying) forest paths, a contemporary layering is also created, different from buildings.
Buildings S, M, L
The historical layering of the site is clearly visible in the main structure and in the aesthetic design of the monuments. The complexes date from four periods. The buildings from the first period, from 1895 to 1924, are ‘cathedrals.’ They are characterized by beautifully worked brick façades, windows like holes, and gable roofs. The buildings from the second period, from 1925 to 1944, look much more modern. The volumes are bigger, often designed on all sides, and have sawtooth roofs. In the third generation of buildings, between 1945 and 1973, you can see a variety of volumes and shapes as well as the use of different materials: concrete, glass, and window frames of wood and steel. The buildings from the fourth period, between 1974 and 2010, form a colorful mix, from steel ‘boxes’ to buildings with façades of washed aggregate concrete. These non-monumental buildings still add value to the story of HEMbrug. In principle, these buildings will also be preserved.
The differences between these layers of time are an inseparable part of HEMbrug’s identity, a quality we embrace and will try to preserve as much as possible. We treat the new buildings as a new layer of time, a new chapter in HEMbrug’s story. This has created a variety of buildings, which can be divided into three categories: Small (electricity huts and management houses), Medium (simple production halls and offices), and Large (machine halls). New buildings are added in the same S, M, L categories. The variation in size naturally leads to diversity in the program, which strengthens HEMbrug’s identity.
Building 230
Mei is going for a restorative approach. The front facade will be made more inviting in a contemporary way, with the doors always open. Small cuts will be made on the side walls to connect the homes with the surrounding ground. This single intervention will be subordinate and carried out with a light material like wood. All layers of the building will be shown, allowing the readability of scale, dimensions, and materials to come through.