MenuClose
Architect, Kerstin Tresselt, explains how fusing homes and education can create a framework for new community-focused places.
Community Centre Westergouwe, Gouda, The Netherlands (artist impression tenderphase)
Good design makes people feel comfortable, happy and like they belong. As social capital increases, so does the desire for community-focused places that deliver multiple functions and offer more opportunities for integration and social mobility.
The Westergouwe community centre in Gouda is a perfect example of this blended design approach. When complete it will be one of the largest children’s centres in the Netherlands, providing a nursery and primary school, sports hall and community facilities together with affordable apartments, united by a beautiful and inventive landscape setting.
The scale of the project means there is direct contact with the natural environment on all sides and four smaller houses designed around a central heartspace forms a safe place where children can play and explore. Each house can be formulated as an original educational space, such as a children’s cooking area, a shop or creative corner.
“Our drawings describe a child’s eye view of the buildings and their environs, a place where they can feel comfortable and at home, rather than lost in a crowd.”
The sports hall and amenities are also set around the central heartspace, encouraging young and old to meet in an informal manner. In this way, the building plays a connecting role in the social structure and wellbeing of the neighbourhood.
Our drawings describe a child’s eye view of the buildings and their environs, a place where they can feel comfortable and at home, rather than lost in a crowd. Nature-inclusive design and green views invite the discovery of wildlife and habitats whilst encouraging healthy activity, enabling social interaction and providing a perfect setting for the community to meet for a barbecue, a picnic on the waterfront or an evening stroll.