Mecanoo propose Eden Project-style eco-attraction for the Netherlands' Soestdijk Palace
by Kim Megson | 28 Oct 2016
The royal family has always cherished the relationship with the surrounding landscape. The plan for Eden Soestdijk responds to this in a beautiful manner
– Francine Houben, creative director at Mecanoo
Dutch architects Mecanoo have taken inspiration from the UK’s Eden Project to propose an expansive experimental garden in the grounds of the Netherlands' Soestdijk Palace.
The Dutch government recently launched a competition to redevelop the royal residence and estate, located in the town of Baarn. In response, Mecanoo have partnered with exhibition designers Kossmann.dejong and engineering consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV to develop their vision for an eco-attraction, called Eden Soestdijk.
An architectural greenhouse winding through the forest behind the palace gardens is the centrepiece of the masterplan. Visitors would be taken on an interactive expedition through different green landscapes – including a tropical rainforest and a subterranean world – highlighting topics of circularity, ecological balance, food production and the social aspects of sustainability.
The results of climate change would become visible in an icy arctic landscape and a recreation of the Martian landscape would highlight the fragility of the earth from a cosmic perspective.
In addition to the vast greenhouse, the existing royal gardens would be fully restored to form unique and beautiful individual sections linked to the theme of sustainability. Meanwhile, the chambers within the palace would be restored and turned into exhibition galleries and cultural spaces showcasing the history of the estate and its residents.
The wings of the building are planned to house interactive exhibition spaces “that display the beauty of nature from a cultural, historical and scientific perspective” in a bid to “motivate visitors to interact with the world in a more sustainable manner.”
“The Palace Soestdijk Estate is one of the most fairytale-like surroundings of the Netherlands, making it the ideal canvas for Eden Soestdijk," said Francine Houben, creative director of Mecanoo. "The royal family has always cherished the relationship with the surrounding landscape. The plan for Eden Soestdijk responds to this in a beautiful manner.”
Anton Valk, chairman of the Eden Soestdijk Foundation – which is leading the plan – highlighted the international appeal and economic, educative and cultural benefits the project would bring to the Netherlands.
“The world is facing pressure from increasingly larger and more complex problems when it comes to water, food, climate and energy,” he said. “Eden Soestdijk wants to tackle these problems and contribute to a more sustainable society by stimulating and inspiring visitors to change their behaviour in a positive way.”
The proposal has been developed in dialogue with residents, local entrepreneurs and businesses. According to the foundation, more than half a million yearly visitors would come to Eden Soestdijk from 2020 onward, including 50,000 students, feeding almost €57m (US$62.2m, £51.2m) into the economy.
Cornwall's Eden Project has inspired the plan with its two enormous biomes filled with plants collected from many diverse climates and environments. The template has proven popular with international attractions developers, and an Eden centre is also currently in the works for China.
Eden Project Mecanoo Netherlands sustainability architecture design Eden Soestdijk Soestdijk Palace Baarn
Visitors would be taken on an interactive expedition through different green landscapes – including a tropical rainforest / Mecanoo
Eden Project, Giant's Causeway and Cornwall win big in British Travel Awards
Deal agreed for £100m China Eden Project
Eden Project secures £150m for second UK development in Devon
China embracing Eden Project template
FEATURE: Interview – Francine Houben
FEATURE: Interview – Tim Smit
Dutch architects Mecanoo have taken inspiration from the UK’s Eden Project to propose an expansive experimental garden in the grounds of the Netherlands' Soestdijk Palace. The Dutch government recently launched a competition to redevelop the royal residence and estate, located in the town of Baarn. In response, Mecanoo have partnered with exhibition designers Kossmann.dejong and engineering consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV to develop their vision for an eco-attraction, called Eden Soestdijk. An
CLD,VAT,HAM,AAC,ARC,DES,DEV,INV,GRSP,ECO
More news
Legacy Entertainment designs "state-of-the-art" turtle-shaped aquarium for Vietnam
by Andy Knaggs | 16 Oct 2019
Legacy Entertainment has designed a new 17,000sq ft (1,600sq m) "state-of-the-art" aquarium shaped like a turtle to be opened on Phu Quoc island, Vietnam, in early 2020. Such will be the so-called Sea Shell's level of design and technology that Legacy says it will be a model for future aquarium projects. Habitats will provide animals with ample space to ensure their wellbeing, while the Life Support Systems, provided by Advanced
Saniya Kantawala Design's homely Mumbai restaurant draws on warm materials and earthy tones
by Stu Robarts | 16 Oct 2019
Saniya Kantawala Design interiors studio has designed a 2,100sq ft (195sq m) restaurant in Mumbai, India, that was conceived to celebrate Indian cuisine and culture in a homely, communal setting. To foster the feeling of homeliness at Mannrangi, a mixture of warm materials and earthy tones were used. Fabric was also incorporated as a key design element, with linen, jute, cotton and polyester providing contemporary, earthy decorative touches. Off-white plastered
Arup's £70m Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games stadium revamp planning proposals submitted
by Tom Walker | 16 Oct 2019
Arup -designed proposals have been submitted to Birmingham City Council for the redevelopment of the UK city's Alexander Stadium, which is set be the focal point of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The £70m ($90m, €81m) plan would see the stadium become a high-quality venue for diverse sporting, leisure, community and cultural events in the decades to come. Among the proposals are plans to build a new western stand replacing
Scott Carver Architects to renovate oldest theatre in New South Wales, Australia
by Stu Robarts | 15 Oct 2019
The Victoria Theatre, the oldest in the Australian state of New South Wales, is to undergo a renovation led by Scott Carver Architects aimed at conserving its heritage features and reviving it as a venue for live performances. Located in the city of Newcastle, the theatre is expected to cost around AU$11.5m (US$7.8m, €7m, £6.1m) to refurbish, which is said to be more than justifiable investment from a business perspective.
Stefano Boeri Architetti-led team wins Genoa's Parco del Ponte competition
by Stu Robarts | 15 Oct 2019
Stefano Boeri Architetti, Metrogramma Milano and Inside Outside have won the design competition for the regeneration of the area underneath Renzo Piano 's replacement for the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy, which collapsed in August last year. The Parco del Ponte competition was launched in March to regenerate the local area and create new public services, including a park, sports facilities, a public square, cycle and pedestrian infrastructure and a
MoMA's $450m Diller Scofidio + Renfro renovation is unveiled
by Stu Robarts | 15 Oct 2019
After a five-year, $450m (€409m, £356m) renovation project split over two phases, New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) reopens next week with 102,000sq ft (9,500sq m) of new gallery and public space. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, working with Gensler, the renovation has seen the building's footprint increased to 708,000sq ft (66,000sq m), with gallery space increased by around a third to 166,000sq ft (15,000sq m). There's a
Restaurant in former Copenhagen boat-building workshop designed by Studio Duncalf
by Stu Robarts | 14 Oct 2019
London-based interior design firm Studio Duncalf has designed a new Alchemist restaurant in a former industrial warehouse that previously housed boat-building and set design workshops in Copenhagen, Denmark. Studio Duncalf split the 2,500sq m (27,000sq ft) warehouse into a number of different rooms, with the aim of "taking the diner on a journey through a sequence of different spaces each with a different ambience." Guests enter the restaurant through a
Oregon Coast Aquarium to build marine rehabilitation centre in $18m renovation
by Stu Robarts | 14 Oct 2019
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is raising a targeted $18.2m (€16.5m, £14.4m) to remodel its facilities, improve its learning experience and build a marine rehabilitation centre, with design work by Dangermond Keane Architecture and Walker Macy. Although the facility is only one of three in the Pacific Northwest that is authorised to provide critical care to endangered marine wildlife, it is was not purpose-built. Instead, it's current rehab centre is housed
Workouts are with a view through one of world's largest glass panels in Invisible Studio-designed gym
by Stu Robarts | 14 Oct 2019
UK-based architects Invisible Studio, founded by Piers Taylor, have designed a 150sq m (1,600sq ft) gym for the Newt Hotel in Somerset that they say has one of the largest glass panels in the world. Measuring 15m (49ft) wide and 3.3m (10.8ft) tall, the window is designed to give a clear and unbroken view of the garden over which it looks. The panel forms part of a bay the sides
David Adjaye's Ruby City art gallery has opened in Texas
by Stu Robarts | 14 Oct 2019
The Ruby City contemporary art centre, designed by British architect Sir David Adjaye, has opened in San Antonio, Texas. So-called because of the ruby red colour of its precast concrete exterior, the 14,000sq ft (1,300sq m) gallery houses more than 900 paintings, sculptures, installations and video works. Its design was inspired by the vision of the late collector and philanthropist Linda Pace and, in part, by the Spanish missions built
Sculptural shipwreck tower with observation deck planned for Prague
by Stu Robarts | 11 Oct 2019
Sculptor David Černý and architect Tomáš Císař from the studio Black n' Arch have designed a 135m ( 450ft)-tall tower for Prague shaped like an upended shipwreck with an observation deck at the top. Top Tower comprises a conventional high-rise tower with a base section that partially acts as a pedestal for the accompanying sculpture, which takes the form of a sunken ship's skeleton covered in seaweed. The sculpture is
Aerotel opens short-stay, nap-focused hotel inside Heathrow T3
by Stu Robarts | 11 Oct 2019
Airport hotel operator Aerotel has opened the first hotel inside London Heathrow Terminal 3. The new property has been designed for the convenience and comfort of late-night and early morning travellers. Aerotel London Heathrow is located steps away from check-in, a five-minute walk to the nearest bus station, six-minutes from the Heathrow Express and close to Terminals 2, 4 and 5. Guests are also able to book stays as short
From Wellington Bombers to Formula 1, Mather & Co and Cube Design create the Silverstone Experience
by Andy Knaggs | 11 Oct 2019
The Silverstone Experience, a journey through the home of British motor racing, is to open in a refurbished WW2 RAF hangar later this month. The £20m (US$24.6m, €22.3m) development has taken seven years to bring to fruition and included the restoration of the 4,000sq m (13,100sq ft) hangar. Led by architect Jane Lock-Smith of Cube Design, the project required more work than was initially expected, with the hangar having to
WDL Interior Architects designs 'UK's first mental health club' for Hero by Joe Gaunt
by Tom Walker | 11 Oct 2019
WDL Interior Architects have designed what is described as the "UK's first mental health club", with four separate training zones – athletic, cardio, rejuvenate and stronger. The 10,000sq ft (930sq m) Hero Training Club in Manchester has taken two years to design and build and has four studios variously equipped with facilities to run classes including boxing, HIIT, indoor cycling, circuits, combat training, yoga, pilates and barre. The zones are
Salient converts 90s plaza into boutique hotel in West Bengal
by Stu Robarts | 10 Oct 2019
Salient has converted a 1990s development called Swabhumi Plaza into a boutique hotel in Kolkata, West Bengal. The plaza was built to celebrate the heritage of Bengal through performance, food and culture. The new Swabhumi Raajkutir hotel has been designed in the style of a pre-independence, 19th century Bengali home to transport guests back to the Bengali Renaissance. The design theme for the property is based on a fictitious story
Brooks + Scarpa and KMF Architects design revealed for Mennello Museum expansion
by Stu Robarts | 10 Oct 2019
Newly unveiled designs Brooks + Scarpa and KMF Architects for a $20m (€18m, £16m), 40,000sq ft (3,700sq m) expansion of Florida's Mennello Museum of American Art show a mixture and merging of indoor and outdoor spaces. Integrated with the existing 12,000sq ft (1,100sq m) museum building, the new structure mixes spacious, naturally-lit indoor exhibition rooms with terraces, covered outdoor spaces, open concourses and pathways connecting them with the green and
Love is Enough converts old railway warehouse to social space
by Stu Robarts | 10 Oct 2019
New York-based studio Love is Enough has created a new social and cultural destination with spaces to lounge, work and eat in a former railway goods warehouse in Manchester, UK. Cultureplex, on the edge of the city's Northern Quarter, is described as "community centre for a modern city". At its heart is a multipurpose and communal central space that can be used by people throughout the day. The space is
Revamped Kinnick Stadium wrapped in breathable glass façade
by Stu Robarts | 09 Oct 2019
Kinnick Stadium, in the US state of Iowa, has undergone an $89m (€81m, £73) renovation designed by Neumann Monson Architects and HNTB that has increased its premium seating capacity and added a 14,000sq ft (1,300sq m) breathable glass façade to the building. The 655ft (200m)-long façade wraps the entire North End Zone of the stadium, shielding fans from the elements and providing ventilation on hot days via its shingled construction.
New Maldives resort villas will feature underwater bedrooms
by Megan Whitby | 09 Oct 2019
Pullman ’s Maldives Maamutaa Resort will open two villas with underwater bedrooms this November, allowing guests to see the island’s vibrant marine life up close during their stay. The resort, designed by Blink Design Group with interiors by Miaja Design Group, opened at the end of September and is spread across 18 hectares of landscaped garden in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll. It has 122 villas that are either beachside or
Macallan Distillery 'technically very impressive' says RSHP's Stephen Barrett
by Stu Robarts | 09 Oct 2019
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) partner Stephen Barrett has praised the work carried out by his firm on the RIBA Stirling Prize-nominated Macallan Distillery, saying it is "technically very impressive". Although the project did not win the top honour at last night's awards ceremony, it was awarded the 2019 RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award earlier in the week – and not without good reason, according to
Ultra-accessible sports facility planned by wheelchair accessible theme park Morgan's Wonderland
by Andy Knaggs | 08 Oct 2019
Morgan's Wonderland, a completely wheelchair accessible theme park in San Antonio, Texas, has announced that it is to build a new "ultra-accessible" sports complex in the city, providing 8,000sq ft (2,440sq m) of covered space for wheelchair sports. Designed by Luna Middleman Architects, the US$3m (€2.7m, £2.45m) Morgan's Wonderland Sports complex will offer fitness and competition for athletes with different abilities. Facilities will include 8,000 sq ft (745sq m) of
Collidanielarchitetto designs eclectic and experimental Covent Garden restaurant
by Stu Robarts | 08 Oct 2019
Collidanielarchitetto 's design of the first venue outside Italy for restaurant chain VyTA is an "eclectic and experimental" conversion of a space in London's Grade II listed Covent Garden Market. Collidanielarchitetto says the project draws on both contemporary design and the "architectural culture of the sixties." This has been translated to wooden walls and lacquered surfaces, inlays and friezes, glass and metals used throughout the space. The lower floor, where
BIG's waste-to-energy ski slope opens in Copenhagen
by Stu Robarts | 07 Oct 2019
This weekend saw the opening of Bjarke Ingels Group's (BIG) ski slope-topped waste-to-energy plant, CopenHill. The 41,000sq m (441,000sq ft) power plant in Copenhagen, also known as Amager Bakke, is said to be the cleanest in the world, incinerating waste and cleaning the smoke created to produce electricity for around 30,000 households and central heating for 72,000 households. Uniquely, though, it also features a variety of recreation and leisure facilities
Eley Guild Hardy-designed Mississippi Aquarium to open in April 2020
by Andy Knaggs | 07 Oct 2019
The Mississippi Aquarium has announced an opening date of 30 April 2020. Designed by Eley Guild Hardy, it will be one of the largest aquariums in the US. Currently under construction in Gulfport, Mississippi, the US$93m (€85m, £75.7m) project will sit on a 5.8-acre (23,500sq m, 253,000sq ft) beachfront site. There will be 80,000sq ft (24,380sq m) of exhibits in total, connected by landscaped walkways with plantings representing all seven
KAOS Architects convert former submarine factory into arts centre
by Stu Robarts | 07 Oct 2019
The Kai Art Center, designed by KAOS Architects, has opened in a former submarine production plant in Tallinn, Estonia. Originally built in 1916 to house workshops for shipbuilding, the building was used for the construction of 12 submarines between 1913 and 1917. Split across two floors, it is made of reinforced concrete and has a curved roof that gives the centre one of its most notable features – a 6m
Radical Innovation Awards 2019 to showcase hospitality disruptors
by Stu Robarts | 04 Oct 2019
A concept for connecting travellers to remote destinations using defunct rail lines, the world's tallest modular hotel and collapsible modular building units make up the shortlist for this year's Radical Innovation Awards for disruptive ideas in the hospitality sector. The awards, which are conceived to encourage disruptors from around the world to develop ideas for progressing the industry, are now in their 13th year. This year's finalists are Infinite Explorer
Raison d’Etre eco-friendly spa opens in Galapagos
by Megan Whitby | 04 Oct 2019
Spa consultancy Raison d’Etre has collaborated with hotel and tour operator Metropolitan Touring to create an eco-friendly spa at the Finch Bay Hotel in the Galapagos. Built from locally-sourced volcanic rock, the spa has a minimalist, contemporary design throughout with large glass windows to let plenty of natural light in. The building has been created to emphasise the unique flora, fauna and landscape of the Galapagos. A yoga room on
Cactus uses immersive lighting gym installations to boost workout performance
by Stu Robarts | 04 Oct 2019
Lighting design studio Cactus has partnered with cardio climbing gym operator Rise Nation to create two new studios that use programmable lighting embedded in the ceiling to help motivate individuals as they workout. Located in the Cherry Creek and Highlands suburbs of Denver, US, the gyms are fitted with modular LED units that can be combined together as large digital canvases to create immersive, multicolour lighting experiences. In this way,
New OMA-designed KaDeWe is part mall, part hotel and part park
by Stu Robarts | 03 Oct 2019
OMA will design the new KaDeWe department store in Vienna, having won a competition with a design that combines shops, restaurants, a hotel and a rooftop park. Described by the developer Signa as "a modern version of a traditional department store with a mix of shops, restaurants and hotel," the project will involve the conversion of an existing building, La Rinascente, which is split into two volumes, with retail at
Sparcstudio unveil £14m spa refurbishment and expansion at Sopwell House Hotel
by Megan Whitby | 03 Oct 2019
Spa designers Sparcstudio have completed a £14m ($17.2m, €15.8m) refurbishment of the Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House Hotel, which has seen a three-storey glass-fronted extension and a private spa garden added to the Georgian property. The spa boasts bright, spacious rooms, Tom Dixon lighting, bespoke furniture, and a warm palette of natural tones complemented by the turquoise accents of the Onice Smeraldo marble which is used. At the heart of
company profile
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
features
features
cladkit product news
The seaweed lamps were inspired by Edwards Anker's ethos of incorporating local and organic materials in her designs to give them a sense of place
Nina Edwards Anker, a Brooklyn-based designer and founder of architecture and design practice nea studio, has created a new collection
...
The MEW Coffee Table is described as an investigation into the relationship between surface and structure
Zaha Hadid Design has partnered with Italian furniture design firm Sawaya & Moroni to create the Mew Coffee Table. The
...
cladkit product news
The Tempano trays feature a state-of-the-art design that combines a linear slope with a high drainage rate
Duravit, a Germany-based bathroom fixtures company, has launched Tempano, a series of easy-to-install shower trays for the home. Available in
...
Crown Sports Lockers installed rain of Nebraska Oak clothes lockers with RFID Digilocks in the changing rooms
Saunton Sands Hotel in Devon, UK, has completed a £2m expansion of its spa and wellness facilities. The upgrade included
...
cladkit product news
Cristallo was the last design from acclaimed designer and architect Alessandro Mendini
Design Studio BD Barcelona Design has released Cristallo, a limited-edition cabinet designed by the late architect and designer Alessandro Mendini,
...
The furniture uses plastic from recycled fishing nets
Mater, an ethical design brand based in Denmark, has launched a furniture collection made from plastic reclaimed from the ocean.
...
The system is designed to enable users to create multifunctional, adaptable pieces, where they are in complete control of the design and function of their furniture
British designer Paul Kelley has created a modular magnetic cube furniture system that enables users to create multifunctional, adaptable pieces,
...
