Town Hall Vught, The Netherlands De Twee Snoeken

In a town named for water, city hall appears to float above a lake

Located in the center of Vught amid a clutch of historic buildings, the elliptically shaped new town hall stands out both for its striking shape and site. Its inclining structure flows from five to six levels. The ground floor looks transparent, which gives rise to the feeling that the main tower floats above it. A large natural lake, symbolizing "Vught," which means "moisture," surrounds the complex.

The council of Vught opted to accommodate all municipal functions, excluding the council chamber, in the new building. At the main entry, located at the corner of two streets, the entrance is recessed from the envelope of the building. Although the level of the floor in the central chamber is approximately one foot lower than the connecting pavement, visitors rarely notice the incline since they are instead captivated by light emanating from the open interior. A central atrium with a glass roof forms the building's heart. Offices wrap around this open space. Walls on the perpendicular axes of the facia are clad by densely perforated moveable timber partitions, while glass comprises most other walls and doors, creating an enormous feeling of spaciousness.

Due in part to its deeply recessed bands of windows, the elliptical tower expresses a powerfully horizontal thrust. In the facia, each level features two bands of windows. The lower band projects at eye level, providing views from the staff offices inside, while the upper band is located directly under the ceiling, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the building. On the east and north sides, these bands of windows are larger than on the south and west sides—this difference takes advantage of the sun's orientation. Anthracite-colored ceramic slates clad other striated bands in the facia.

Formal name of project:

Town Hall

Location:

Vught, The Netherlands

Gross square footage:

59,200 sq. ft.

Total Construction Cost:

$11.3 million

Owner:

Vught Municipal Executive

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