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Veilige Veste
Veilige Veste
Holstmeerweg, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
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Veilige Veste
Holstmeerweg, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
The Veilige VesteLiterally translated ‘Veilige
Veste’ means ‘safe fortress’, and that is exactly what it is. You cannot miss
the bright white building. It is the new home for girls from all around the
world that have been victims of human trafficking.
Bold, brave and safe is the
concept for the new shelter for girls that have been victims of human
trafficking. The Dutch KAW architects designed their new home. Not tucked away
in anonymous houses in back alleys anymore, which is the way these girls are
normally treated. No, these girls do not have to fear their perpetrators any
more in their new home that is standing fierce in the midst of Frieslands’
capital Leeuwarden. In their safe fortress they send out a clear message: we are no longer on the run, game
over, giving their perpetrators the finger. ‘Veilige
Veste’ provides security and protection, so the girls can build up their lives
again.
The gleaming white building may look like newly
built, yet in fact it is a completely renovated police office from the early
70ies. As most constructions from that time, this edifice was very poorly
insulated. Covering up was the solution. The architect in
charge, Italian born Beatrice Montesano, was inspired by other professions of
art. The sculptor Giuseppe Sanmartino and the artist Christo show wrapping can
be an art form.
Covering the whole building
with especially designed square composite elements; that is how architect
Beatrice Montesano translated the work of the previous mentioned artists in the
transformation of the old police station.
The strict 12 by 12 feet grid constituting the building inspired Montesano
to design the diagonally angled squares, that are positioned alternately to
create the diamond shape pattern that covers the building. After more than ten
years in the Netherlands, Montesano is still moved by the amazing changes of
light that are characteristic of the Dutch landscape. “I still think the light here is incredibly beautiful. The white façade
with its subtle gleam interacts with its environment; you see the air and the
trees reflected in them, changing shapes from every different angle and different
time of the day.’
The façade on the ground floor is constituted
from wooden panels and large windows, giving it the appearance of a building
floating over ground level, which in turn enhances the concept of a fortress.
The ground floor consists of 1600 m2 offices,
meeting rooms and treatment rooms. The 48 girls live on the first and second
floor, divided in six residential groups. These floors are the ones covered
with the diagonally angled square elements on the outside. The second floor is
a square built around a huge patio; a garden for the girls where they can be
outside but still be safe from harm.
What is revolutionary about
the ‘Veilige Veste’, is that this is the first large office block in the
Netherlands to be renovated according to the Passive House standard. ‘Passive
House’ is a standard for energy efficiency in a building, reducing its
ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require
little energy for space heating or cooling. In this case, the fact that the
former police stations’ substructure was placed outside the building, meant an
enormous energy abuser to be dealt with. The substructure created a thermal
bridge that works exactly like a tunnel sucking in the cold outside air. By
wrapping the building with the diamond-cut square panels, the substructure is
now within the building and the whole building is covered by a thick layer of
insulation. At some points, the façade is over 3 feet thicker now. Thanks to
optimal insulation, draft proofing and the use of very little, highly
energy-efficient equipment, the ‘Veilige Veste’ consumes exceptionally little
power.
Veste’ means ‘safe fortress’, and that is exactly what it is. You cannot miss
the bright white building. It is the new home for girls from all around the
world that have been victims of human trafficking.
Bold, brave and safe is the
concept for the new shelter for girls that have been victims of human
trafficking. The Dutch KAW architects designed their new home. Not tucked away
in anonymous houses in back alleys anymore, which is the way these girls are
normally treated. No, these girls do not have to fear their perpetrators any
more in their new home that is standing fierce in the midst of Frieslands’
capital Leeuwarden. In their safe fortress they send out a clear message: we are no longer on the run, game
over, giving their perpetrators the finger. ‘Veilige
Veste’ provides security and protection, so the girls can build up their lives
again.
The gleaming white building may look like newly
built, yet in fact it is a completely renovated police office from the early
70ies. As most constructions from that time, this edifice was very poorly
insulated. Covering up was the solution. The architect in
charge, Italian born Beatrice Montesano, was inspired by other professions of
art. The sculptor Giuseppe Sanmartino and the artist Christo show wrapping can
be an art form.
Covering the whole building
with especially designed square composite elements; that is how architect
Beatrice Montesano translated the work of the previous mentioned artists in the
transformation of the old police station.
The strict 12 by 12 feet grid constituting the building inspired Montesano
to design the diagonally angled squares, that are positioned alternately to
create the diamond shape pattern that covers the building. After more than ten
years in the Netherlands, Montesano is still moved by the amazing changes of
light that are characteristic of the Dutch landscape. “I still think the light here is incredibly beautiful. The white façade
with its subtle gleam interacts with its environment; you see the air and the
trees reflected in them, changing shapes from every different angle and different
time of the day.’
The façade on the ground floor is constituted
from wooden panels and large windows, giving it the appearance of a building
floating over ground level, which in turn enhances the concept of a fortress.
The ground floor consists of 1600 m2 offices,
meeting rooms and treatment rooms. The 48 girls live on the first and second
floor, divided in six residential groups. These floors are the ones covered
with the diagonally angled square elements on the outside. The second floor is
a square built around a huge patio; a garden for the girls where they can be
outside but still be safe from harm.
What is revolutionary about
the ‘Veilige Veste’, is that this is the first large office block in the
Netherlands to be renovated according to the Passive House standard. ‘Passive
House’ is a standard for energy efficiency in a building, reducing its
ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require
little energy for space heating or cooling. In this case, the fact that the
former police stations’ substructure was placed outside the building, meant an
enormous energy abuser to be dealt with. The substructure created a thermal
bridge that works exactly like a tunnel sucking in the cold outside air. By
wrapping the building with the diamond-cut square panels, the substructure is
now within the building and the whole building is covered by a thick layer of
insulation. At some points, the façade is over 3 feet thicker now. Thanks to
optimal insulation, draft proofing and the use of very little, highly
energy-efficient equipment, the ‘Veilige Veste’ consumes exceptionally little
power.
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