grass-herb roof top pavilion by marc prosman at beatrixpark

grass-herb roof top pavilion by marc prosman at beatrixpark
image © christian richters
all images courtesy of marc prosman architecten

merging with its surroundings, this detached pavilion by amsterdam-based firm marc prosman architecten, sits alongside a paddling pool in a monumental part of beatrixpark in amsterdam. commissioned by stadsdeel zuid, the sustainably designed building features a grass-herb roof, which serves as a rainwater buffer and contributes to the structure’s green character. referencing the curving fence of the arcade around the pool edge, the solitary dwelling follows a similar form. in addition to public toilets, gardener’s storage, children supervising and a service-point, a hang out area for friends of beatrixpark is also found within the building. rather than being a typically dense box in a park, the animate sculpture of wood and brick responds to its green environment. the roof gently breaks free from its grounded volume to form an awning at the service point and an overhang for the horizontal window. constructed with brick and interspersed with vertical wooden parts in both green and grey, the environmentally designed building contains certified fsc wood and energy efficient, motion-detecting lights. an interplay of the two contrasting materials both horizontally and vertically is displayed, as the brick plinth partly reaches the eave, while the wooden panels run downwards. a request from the city district was for a vandal-proof building, so the robust design offers two faces – during the summer paddling pool’s opening times the pavilion opens its shutters for public use, and in autumn and winter the building is closed up, sitting comfortably in the landscape.

the pavilion’s curving form of wood and brick responds to the lush greenery
image © christian richters

the environmentally designed building contains certified FSC wood
image © christian richters

view showing the interplay of the two contrasting materials both horizontally and vertically
image © christian richters

an extruding roof breaks free from the volume to form an awning at the service point
image © christian richters

 
during the winter months the vandal proof building is shut down
image © christian richters

 
during the summer months the pavilion’s service point opens its shutters for public use
image © christian richters

the park dwelling follows a similar form to the curving fence around the paddling pool
image © christian richters

the pavilion is constructed with a natural looking green-tinted masonry
image © christian richters

detail showing the material construction with vertical wooden slats painted both green and grey
image © christian richters

park building beatrixpark plan

park building beatrixpark situation

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