Residential care centre Wivina
The former Wivina abbey situated in the walled park with pond gives an abandoned impression. This park and abbey always left its mark on Groot-Bijgaarden.
The abbey has its history and this history its extensions. The abandoned impression of the abbey allows for even more inspiration for its future. Private investors notice this and desire more than what is to be expected normally. In a present-day world where care for assisted living is not a superfluous question anymore, they set out a plan for future living.
The abbey and the park are the starting point to gain more quality than the standard. Knowledge helps. The history of the abbey helps to choose. What was added can be subtracted; what the history of adding buildings has learned is that the additional buildings have no history.
Dare to take an opposite stance: that is the courage. Not to be just the opposite or just to be different. On the contrary, a clear attitude is a better chance for the best marriage. Not in the idiom of old versus new, just the right reflection.
Where the original has been clearly drawn the new takes on an equally clear drawing. The classic setup of entrance building, central wing and chapel is backed up by a cruciform plan. The cross forms a quadrant with the existing and the other three quadrants divide the surroundings into a various whole.
A study of the classic structure and proportions of the original abbey produces a simple plan –positioning the hallway along the façade learns the building to always look back to its surroundings –as well as a simple principle that generates its own variation when it comes to the invention of the architectural perception. A simple grid of window frames never bores.
There is even more. Brick bonds mirror the historical detail of the existing abbey.
No matter how, it’s always as follows: the new building always has a clear drawing; or the other way around: the existing receives its respect. But it’s never just the old versus the new. Never!
Although the abbey and its new crossed wing are situated in the far corner of the park – with regards to monuments it has always been one of the few places where buildings were allowed or could be thought of; precisely because of its crossing the complete program finds its own connection to its surroundings throughout. None of the future apartments are lesser than the other. At the same time every apartment finds its own position within the whole; its own position with its own perspective.
The park with its trees and pond as well as the vegetable garden and the walled separate garden are more appreciated. Now, the park does not have a backside anymore but rather has all sides.
Architecture can be simple. And listening. History can teach. History has to get its place without needing the opposite.
