Commissioned by The Hague, LIAG has collaborated with MCB in participating in a development competition for the design of a building on a prominent spot in the district Transvaal, in The Hague. We have created a design for a Multicultural Leisure Centre: MVC-Medina Transvaal. An icon for The Hague in terms of oriental appearance, organization and supply activities, job creation, sustainability and architecture. MVC-Medina is a job creator for the district: the present plan realizes approximately 750-1000 new jobs.
The access of the building is like a linear square running through the building. With wide stairs and lifts the visitor comes along open spaces where people are at work making and selling crafts. The wooden runner is the ascending walking street. From the promenade there is beautiful view over The Hague. On the roof there is a restaurant in a vegetable and herb garden and there is also a large section of urban agriculture. MVC-Medina has a high proportion of care apartments, a hotel and floors with education, sporting facilities, catering and parking. Medina features a mix of traditional marketing workshops in the field of food and non-food. The addition of two hotels in MVC-Medina, will also boost the area.
On the ground floor MVC-Medina has a high degree of openness and accessibility. With a transparent facade screen, based on the form of the streets of the surrounding neighbourhood, the building has a modern-oriental appearance. This transparent facade makes it possible to see the different features within. Parking is on two floors in the mid-section of the building, so that visitors can easily access the different floors within the centre.
Medina Energy Service Company will be established with the objective to generate sophisticated energy to provide its own energy supply and also supply energy to the surrounding neighbourhood.