Live music venue Grenswerk, Venlo
The building envelope restores an architectural mass to the site that emulates the surrounding housing. Given its distinctive function, we have chosen a sensitve, yet tough volume, which corresponds to the typology of a warehouse.
Q4, part of the medieval city on the Maas, is to be the future creative and cultural heart of Venlo. The culturally historical structures are the carriers of the new urban development. The characteristic medieval and 19th century urban blocks are starting points for the development plan of the area.
The building envelope restores an architectural mass to the site that emulates the surrounding housing. Given its distinctive function, we have chosen a sensitve, yet tough volume, which corresponds to the typology of a warehouse.
The volume in this way elegantly blends into its densely built urban environment. The roofline is careful to respect the historical center and can be seen clearly in the roof capping. As a result, this cap structure becomes a main characteristic of the building, an architectural statement. From the entrance one has a beautiful view of the strong roof line, which continues inside on entering the building, allowing the user to read its honest structure.
The facade refers again to factory house history in an abstract and decorative way. Through large punctured windows the programme of the building can be clearly read from outside.
The building plot in relation to the seating requirements of the main hall is limited. Therefore, the careful positioning of the hall was a determining factor in the design. Centrally placing and lifting the hall above ground level opened up attractive possibilities for positioning the public functions; the entrance, the PopCafe, rehearsal rooms and the loading and unloading areas. This also creates a sound buffer to the surrounding residential area which is further strengthened by the circulation and ultilies housed in the void. The void connects entrance, foyer and halls, and subsequently the artists,office workers and visitors. The program is positioned to create an open, transparent atmosphere on the ground floor, with an inviting plinth connecting to the urban fabric. The pop temple has the appearance of interaction and socializing with visible activities. The Rehearsal Studios have windows onto the entrance area and PopCafe. Music making is therfore visible to all visitors and passers-by.
