Province of Zeeland
Archive, Middelburg
A mansion designed in 1765
by J.P. van Baurscheit in the old town centre of Middelburg was chosen to house
the new Province
of Zeeland Archive. The
historic interior was restored and primed to receive the documentary and
administrative part and the restoration divisions. In the garden behind the
building is a three-level underground repository, and in a new-build pavilion
in the garden are the public zone, reception, reading rooms, meeting/exhibition
room and coffee corner. The pavilion’s triangular form derives from the yards
between houses that are a characteristic feature of Middelburg. A staircase and
lift in the central void connect all repositories with the reception and
reading rooms and with the passages on the three floors. Like the historic part
the new-build portion is a solid affair, though the toned-down finish of metal
and concrete contrasts with the interior of the old mansion.
Client
Rijksgebouwendienst,
directie Zuid West
Architect
Benthem
Crouwel Architekten
In
cooperation with
Architektenburo Verlaan
& Bouwstra
Artists
Frans Franciscus
Lydia Schouten
Gross
floor area
7800
m²
Start
design
1994
Start
construction
1997
Completion
1999
