| Location | Geldermalsen, The Netherlands |
| Square | 200m2 |
| Timeline | January 2021 - June 2024 |
Werkzaak Rivierenland in Geldermalsen connects employers and job seekers, promoting personal development through training and coaching. To provide additional training and presentation spaces, a separate pavilion has been added to the learning garden. This reflects WZR's ambition to offer an accessible, healthy environment and creates a unique experience close to nature.
Social impact
The project not only emphasizes sustainable construction but also highlights social return, which is one of Werkzaak Rivierenland's core values. The pavilion was designed not only to serve its intended audience but also to actively involve them in its creation. This goal has been achieved by transforming the pavilion into a space for learning, working, and training for young employees at the contracting company and students from Bouwmensen Rivierengebied.
Inside out
The pavilion features a demountable wooden load-bearing structure and a timber-frame façade. This structure, with larch columns and beams, is positioned on the exterior of the building. Together with the roof overhang, it forms a transition between indoors and outdoors, as well as between private and public spaces. The large windows foster connection and provide views, enhancing the experience of learning within the garden. Climbing plants grow along the wooden façade, embedding the pavilion seamlessly into the green garden. Wooden slats on the external canopy add playful texture, offering shade in summer while allowing sufficient light in winter. The lines in the construction emphazise the interplay between interior and exterior, creating a visually appealing whole.
Sustainability
The use of sustainable materials and their efficient application helps reduce the building's ecological impact. Biobased materials, such as the prefabricated wooden load-bearing structure and the exterior and interior cladding of treated wood, were predominantly chosen. Unlike concrete, wood does not emit CO2 but rather stores it. Additionally, circular materials were incorporated, including (folding) walls made from recycled clothing felt and ceilings made of flax. The design strikes a balance between functionality, sustainability, and nature.
Interior design
The layout of the orthogonal volume is compact and well-organized. A central pantry located in the middle of the building organizes the spaces and minimizes circulation areas. All rooms provide ample views of the surrounding greenery. The training rooms open out onto the garden side under the roof overhang. The interior is designed to be flexible and can be easily adapted to meet future needs. For instance, a movable wall between the training rooms provides flexibility for various uses and group sizes.
Projectpartners: People & Bricks, IMd, J.C. Van Kessel Groep, Bouwmensen Rivierengebied, i-did, Planq, Cassala Furniture
