Dutch design studio MVRDV works in collaboration with landscape studio Bura Harro and KondorWessels Projecten, a developer on the Buitenplaats Koningsweg project. This is a redevelopment process that transforms what was once a World War Two German military base into a housing space. To do so, the team adds terraced housing units and retains a range of bunkers that are now farmhouses.
The founding partner of MVRDV, Nathalie de Vries shares, "An unusual aspect of Buitenplaats Koningsweg is that the buildings were designed from the very start to disguise their true nature. How could modern interventions help to draw attention to their history while preserving the integrity of that disguise? Our answer was to make changes hyper-legible. The clear delineation between the old, new, and reconstructed elements, along with unexpected details such as the metre-thick bunker walls of the historic buildings, help people to intuitively interpret the site's story."
Military Base-Transformed Housing
MVRDV and Buro Harro Work on the Buitenplaats Koningsweg Project
Trend Themes
1. Adaptive Reuse Architecture - Transfiguring obsolete military installations into vibrant residential areas introduces a sustainable model for repurposing historic structures.
2. Historical Preservation Integration - Blending modern housing designs with preserved World War Two bunkers creates an architectural narrative that respects and highlights historical significance.
3. Terraced Housing Innovations - Implementing terraced housing in redeveloped military zones optimizes space usage while adapting to the landscape's unique topology.
Industry Implications
1. Real Estate Development - Revamping disused military properties for civilian housing serves as a novel approach within the real estate sector.
2. Sustainable Construction - Utilizing existing structures for new purposes falls in line with sustainable practices in the construction industry.
3. Historical Conservation - Projects that preserve and repurpose historical sites foster a niche within the conservation industry.