On the 16th of November Erick van Egeraat's new Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands, will be officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. The festive re-inauguration of the Museum marks the official end of 18 months of construction within budget and timeframes.
Erick van Egeraat's design was unanimously voted the winner at the design competition by the Jury and the client, the province of Drenthe. His vision to use the extension of the Museum as an organizing instrument for the Museum as a whole was the decisive factor.
The most important aspect of Erick van Egeraat's design is the consistent integration of the museum with the cities fabric. A balanced play of building, landscape and water, creates a new identity for the extended museum. The design reinforces both the scenic character and the cultural-historic face of Assen's city center.
The staggered, organic roof of the new wing connects existing gardens and parks in the city. Erick van Egeraat is thus creating a publicly accessible park. Openings in the roof allow light to penetrate into the exhibition spaces below. The new wing links the new entrance with existing parts of the museum and the city landscape.
The existing coach-house will serve as the museum's new main entrance. Lifted 1 meter above the ground, the existing structure rests on a glass plinth, revealing the building's new function in an elegant manner. The historic façade is left untouched, therefore preserving the buildings civic appearance. During the day, the glass plinth allows light to enter the building. At night, interior lighting transforms the coach-house into a beacon for the city and its inhabitants.
Source: Erick van Egeraat PR
