Mirador Nature Activity Centre in Oostvaardersland, Netherlands

August 24, 2010 Category: Cultural, Public Buildings

Designed by Allard Architecture, Mirador Nature Activity Centre is located in Oostvaardersland, Netherlands. Imposed site challenges are absorbed through the structure which not only acts as an iconic visual reference, but connects the upper level dike and main road with the lower landscape.

The form of their proposal is a product of the rational stacking of programs which are arranged through a zonal hierarchy based upon an interactive narrative: the entrance zone (lobby, shop and information); the mirador zone (restaurant, multi-use room and sky terrace); and the immersion zone (exhibition space, offices, dressing room and flexible rooms).

From the entrance zone: stepped inclined floors become a connector to the immersion zone and serve as a flexible area for conference rooms, classrooms, reading areas and as a continuation of the exhibition space. There is also a connection via vertical circulation to connect with the mirador zone, giving an unobstructed view of the natural surroundings.

The building mass is designed with a narrow footprint that varies between ten and twelve metres in width. This enables the building to maintain optimum day lighting and allows a natural ventilation strategy to be utilised for heat control. Cladding materials have been suitably chosen depending on program and the integration of photovoltaic cells are used where less transparency is required. The green roof system is used for reducing the fluctuation in internal temperature whilst simultaneously harvesting and filtering grey water for building services.

Mirador Nature Activity Centre Design Architechture Plan 1