The Oostvaarders: A Nature Education Center in Almere

The Oostvaarders A Nature Education Center In Almere 7

Drost + van Veen architects designed The Oostvaarders in Almere, the Netherlands. The project was brought by Municipality of Almere as the client that expected the establishment of a nature education center in the area. From this project, the firm was nominated in 2010 for an architecture award known as Architectuurprijs Almere.

The Oostvaarders

The Oostvaarders A Nature Education Center In Almere 7

This nature education center is situated in one of Europe’s unique nature reserves called ‘The Osstvaadersplassen’ in Almere. The facility was constructed at a junction of different landscapes with varying characters of forest, land, water, and reed fields.

The Oostvaarders A Nature Education Center In Almere 6

In order to serve a wide range of audience, the education center provides an information room and classrooms. It also contains a restaurant, panorama-room, and the representative meeting room which is served as the new icon of Almere.

The Facade

The Oostvaarders A Nature Education Center In Almere 3

Prefab, timber pinewood elements were chosen as the materials for the building’s façade. The architecture firm also arranged those elements in different textures and patterns. There are also different direction and size for the façade’s perforations.

The Oostvaarders A Nature Education Center In Almere 4

Meanwhile, the Oostvaarders various framed views from the façade, allowing the visitors to observe and learn about the environment in different angles.

The LenoTec Walls

The Oostvaarders A Nature Education Center In Almere 2

The LenoTec walls were incorporated into the building in order to create a meter overhang over the lake. This is a necessary measure to minimize a disruption in the surrounding natural environment as well as to reduce the building time to a minimum. Therefore, the building was constructed in massive, prefab, and wooden walls and floors.

The Oostvaarders A Nature Education Center In Almere 1

Additionally, the wood material used is quite light with a high isolation. The natural expression of the materials is emphasized in the interior, inspired by a wooden cottage.

Via Simone Drost

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.


Discover more from Futurist Architecture

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Alana Groom

Alana Groom

Total posts created: 367
“An idea is salvation by imagination.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.