Competition 'Herinrichting kerkplein Hoorn' (2013)

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with:

Sander van Velden

Chiel Lansink

Robert Zandjans

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This competition is a call out for all inhabitants of Hoorn, architects, hobbyists, interested persons and city lovers; Het Architectuurcentrum Hoorn dares participators of this competition to approach this objective open minded. The church is a preserved monument but in the objective it is allowed to handle the building with less preservation. All space is here to wander off the walked paths. All participations will be bundled and a selection of the best 7 will be presented for the aldermen and mayor of the municipallity of Hoorn for inspiration. 

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Instead of the current situation with closed façades and a parking lots. We now extend the roads and paths and let them pass through the church, which removes the idea of the church being a barrier. Instead the church becomes a place to enter from all sides, unlike the tradional churches. When the lines cross the church certain spaces start to exist. These spaces will get public functions like a church was supposed to be. Think of restaurants, libraries and an exhibition space. 

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Perspectives show how the ground involves the church and the other way around. The previous situation was a parking lot. To create more of a square the steps are attractive to walk on because of their uncommon shape and contrast with the church. The facilities located inside of the church (defined by the glass path) could use the outside space too for lectures, exhibitions of as a terrace.

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As one of the visualisations shows, the only light would come from inside the glass, so the church will be lit by the coloured light of the created path. This way, from roads leading there, the lights will be seen from far and attract people to see what happens, inside and outside of the church. The paths trough the church start in front of it to make sure the entrances can be seen and that the church becomes part of the square around it.