Crescendo Maaswaard Elderly Housing Project, Venlo
In the Maaswaard area, at the central point
between the four cores today constituting the town of Venlo, a new sheltered housing project for
the elderly is constructed. This ensemble will be visually
defining for Venlo,
being high-profile and metropolitan yet sensitive to the surrounding
residential areas.
The design proceeds from a sturdy four-storey
basement from which rise towers of a further four to six storeys. This
composition of towers combined with a nearby existing office tower
(Nedinscotoren), takes account of sight lines and ways through in the adjoining
neighbourhoods. Two of the project's towers, their fronts wrapped in an 'open'
screen of glass panels, add a lighter touch, affording some relief from the
ensemble's otherwise imposing metropolitan demeanour. A great many different
dwelling types are to look out over the river Maas.
Cladding basically consists of cut stone and
sandwich panels in a range of colours from light to dark. Balconies are set
back inside the blocks as loggias where they can be developed into sunrooms.
A semi-public, sun-filled courtyard in the
south spills over into the park on that side. The block overlooking the
courtyard seems to float due to its 2.5 metre tall glass plinth which contains
health care and other facilities. There is also a prominent south-facing
restaurant cum grand café with terrace. The ambience of this outdoor area
reflects the human touch, giving residents both a sense of seclusion and the fullest
experience of social life there.
Client
Woningstichting
Woonwenz
Architect
Benthem
Crouwel Architekten
Gross floor area
24350 m²
Start design
2005
Start construction
2009
Completion
2011
