COMPETITION: DICHTER BIJ VELP

INTRODUCTION

Dichterbij Velp is a Dutch healthcare organization that provides care for mentally disabled children and adults, for their parents and their network. For their location in Velp Dichterbij is looking for innovative ideas and concepts for the spatial realization of care. Dichterbij has a direct need for an expansion of the daycare facilities, offices and dwellings for their clients. There is also a wish to stimulated social integration with the inhabitants of Velp.

We as a design team think that the future design should exploit the qualities present on the design site. The core qualities of the site are the abundance of greenery, it’s extensive area, the relation with the town of Velp and the facilities already owned by dichterbij. We think an addition to the programme should be small scale so that it adapts to the scale of the town of Velp.

Social integration can be integrated by choosing for a design concept that offers additional facilities for the clients of Dichterbij, for the inhabitants of Velp, the people living in the elderly home next to the site and the community school. No one should be excluded.
 

THE CONCEPT

The design concept we propose, consists of a series of pavilions organised in a grid. The grid that is boldly placed over the site, has several functions. The grid generates openness, giving space to one of the core qualities of the site, its greenery, but it also provides a clear and easy to read organisation. Next to these qualities the grid provides a space for unexpected encounters; people meeting, playing, feeling and walking around unconstrained; a new way to experience public space.
 

LAYERS

The pavilions are divided into three separated layers, with each a different identity and functionality. The layers show the diversity of the plan area.

Current condition
The current condition forms the base for the design. Minor changes are made to the project site. We think the greenery present forms a perfect starting point for a park with qualities every one can enjoy. Keeping the exiting site as it is, results conflicts with the proposed grid that is placed over it. As a result the site is experienced in unconventional ways.

Subdivisions
The area in between the pavilions exists of area dedicated to distinctive functions. Area’s are dedicated to sports, agriculture, petting zoo and camping grounds. These area’s can be used by clients of Dichterbij, but is not limited to these specific users. Inhabitants of Velp can use the area’s as well, stimulating social integration.

Facilities
This layer holds all facilities needed to provide the optimal care for the inhabitants of this area. It consists of the existing (care) facilities, such as the community school, the housing and the monastery. This layer will be complemented with additional housing, therapy rooms, offices for employees, and pavilions providing day care activities for clients such a package & postal service.

Experience
The top layer represents the sensory experience of the design. This team believes that nobody should be excluded in this design, whether it is the inhabitants of Velp or the clients of Dichterbij. By creating sensory pavilions with distinctive levels, even the most care-depended inhabitants will be able to benefit from the design proposal. Examples of these sensory pavilions are a butterfly tower or the birds nest. These pavilions form landmarks in the landscape by its expressive design. Through their fun-factor they stimulate use, conversation and thereby social integration.