junya ishigami + studio MAKS to curve visitor center through park vijversburg

on a recent trip to tokyo, designboom visited the studio of japanese architect junya ishigami where we were able to get a closer look at the firm’s competition winning proposal for park groot vijversburg in the netherlands, set for completion later this year.

working alongside local practice studio MAKS, the project comprises a set of site specific architectural interventions, including a visitor’s center, an assortment of greenhouses, floating performance stages and the complete renovation of the site’s historical mansion.

junya ishigami presents his designs for the dutch park
image © designboom (main image courtesy of junya ishigami + associates & studio MAKS)

park ijversburg, which was established in the 19th century, hosts a range of international events including art exhibitions, musical performances and church services. the visitor center blends naturally into the grounds of the existing villa, positioned so as to have a minimal impact on its surroundings. the main hall stretches outwards, becoming a path which naturally flows into a trail, making the transition from the interior to the park environment, as one progresses through the space.

the curved forms of the visitor center compliment the site’s existing historic villa
image © designboom

three thin transparent walls encircle the historic mansion, renaissance garden and ancient pond, with reflective surfaces that mirror the grounds. consequently, the building becomes part of the park. on approach, gently sloping ramps bring guests inside the center, softening the transition between the exterior and interior environments and merging the built volume with the natural landscape.

junya ishigami explains the specific concepts behind his proposal
image © designboom

parallel to the aforementioned series of works will be a 15 hectare extension to the park designed by rotterdam-based LOLA landscape architects, utrecht-based firm deltavormgroep and dutch landscape architect piet oudolf. see designboom’s coverage of the development here.

to read designboom’s book report on junya ishigami‘s ‘how small? how vast? how architecture grows’, see here.

as with many of the japanese architect’s projects, the natural landscape is an integral component of the scheme
image © designboom

designboom founders massimo mini and birgit lohmann speak with junya ishigami
image © designboom

read designboom’s book report on junya ishigami’s ‘how small? how vast? how architecture grows’ here
image © designboom

a range of planted trees populate the park
image © designboom

gently sloping ramps soften the transition between the exterior and interior
image courtesy of junya ishigami + associates & studio MAKS

thin transparent walls encircle the design, with reflective surfaces that mirror the landscape
image courtesy of junya ishigami + associates & studio MAKS

inside the curved visitor center
image courtesy of junya ishigami + associates & studio MAKS

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project info:

location: tytsjerk, the netherlands
architects: junya ishigami + associates (junya ishigami, wataru shinji, hiroaki takigawa, taeko abe) & studio MAKS (marieke kums, yuka takeuchi, eunyong kim, yongil kim)
client: stichting op toutenburg
engineering: ABT B.V.
program: visitor center / auditorium / gallery, meeting spaces & offices, green houses, performance areas
building area: 1,000 sqm (10,764 sqf)
status: competition, 1st prize

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