WaterCampus Leeuwarden
The new main office of WaterCampus Leeuwarden, designed by GEAR architects, is an organic building that looks like an enormous bird’s nest.
Leeuwarden wants to present itself as Capital of Water Technology. The new construction underlines this ambition. The assignment was to design an ‘eco-icon’ that represents the sustainability of water technology.
Its shape gives the building a striking appearance and its atmosphere and colour fit the surroundings perfectly. Wood lamellas protect the laboratories and offices situated at the facade from direct sunlight. The atrium is the building’s main feature: a tall space with northern light, traversed by footbridges. Additionally, the wavy course of the lamellas gives the building a fluid character because of the flowing, continuous and rounded shapes, which makes it recognisable as the showpiece of the WaterCampus.
GEAR is a new cooperation of four experienced architectural firms from Friesland: TWA, Achterbosch Zantman Architecten, Borren Staalenhoef Architects and Jelle de Jong Architects.