Pavilion Hoge Veluwe

The Park Pavilion in the middle of De Hoge Veluwe nature park has several faces. The two high gabled roofs of this Park Pavilion stand out from afar in the forest. The aluminum façade parts shine in the daylight and, as it were, attract visitors to them. “A pavilion should be a beacon that logically welcomes visitors,” says architect Job Floris van Monadnock. Indeed, pavilions such as Mies van der Rohe's famous Barcelona Pavilion and the annual Serpentine Pavilions in Hyde Park in London are architectural highlights. “This is also a large pavilion. Using only aluminum, glass and brick make it look less bulky in size than it is. Rather modest even.” The high-end façade in two narrow points emphasizes the building's elegance, Willem Hein Schenk adds, architect at design agency De Zwarte Hond, which collaborated with Monadnock on this project. "We did not want a neutral building, but a statement." A vertical structure of aluminum slats runs over the end façade. “In this way, the interior of the building will remain a surprise for a while. Despite the grand gesture, we did not want a building that immediately gives up everything.”

The long curved entrance facade of the Park Pavilion is more modest. After all, a pavilion is also a place for peace and intimacy, according to Floris. “Our reference here is the classic country house from the last century. That is why the roof edge has been lowered, which gives a feeling of shelter. ” From the ground to the roof, this facade consists of one large window, which also runs the full length of the building - about 330 ft. "This means there is maximum view and daylight inside." The size of the windows is further enhanced by the flat aluminum frames. "Nothing distracts from the view." This facade consists of only two materials: glass and aluminum. The appearance of the building is restrained and peaceful. “The client, the De Hoge Veluwe nature park, did not want wood for practical reasons because that requires maintenance,” says Schenk. “Baksteen was insufficiently in line with the wish to give the country house a light character. Hence the choice for aluminum, which looks slender and sleek and is relatively easy to process. ” For example, facade builder Haro Aluminum has placed beautiful folds in the roof, which is hardly possible with other materials.

On the low open facade, the entrance is logically placed in the middle. Once inside, the shop and the information desk are on the right; the restaurant is on the left. Despite these commercial functions, the space evokes the warm tranquility of a country house, through high oak paneling, with the vaulted staircase being the only element of wood, and the interior designed by Bart Vos. Upstairs are the meeting rooms and halls for 'driving sessions'.

Despite the spectacular height, the seating area feels intimate. Lamps with an arched metal shade hang from the white vaulted ceiling, from which a gossamer and abstract pattern has been cut with lasers. Under the hood is a bunch of LEDs that continuously dim, seemingly in random order. This creates a fairytale effect of moving shadows on the vaulted ceiling, reminiscent of the sun falling through a canopy.

It is premeditated that the dominant aluminum also gives the building a somewhat metallic, almost industrial appearance. Floris: “We have been looking for that contrast. A country house and a pavilion seek to connect with nature but are emphatically not nature themselves. De Hoge Veluwe park is a unique place where nature, architecture, and culture are intertwined. ” In order not to make the contrast too great, the aluminum has a champagne-like shade, which can be either soft green or sandy, depending on the daylight. “We opted for anodized aluminum, which reacts strongly to light reflection. On a sunny spring day, it is a fresh green, almost sparkling, while it looks matte and beige on a drizzly autumn day. ” This staggering palette - a camouflage it seems - is essential, because the environment also changes color. “Not just with the seasons; the sandy soil also gets darker after a rain shower. ” The diverse appearance of the Park Pavilion is enhanced by a curvature in the building. As a result, the curved facade looks considerably more friendly than the angular, monumental end facade. The two other facades explicitly seek to connect with the surrounding nature. The brick walls here have a filling joint, which gives the masonry a smooth appearance. At the same time, the stones have different colors, just like the naturally sandy soil in the area. There is also a terrace with sturdy steel benches and wooden picnic tables. “This is the informal place, literally and figuratively the opposite of the counterpart of the formal gable end.