Groendienst Neerhoeve

The Antwerp Public Parks and Gardening Department will get new premises in the monumental Schoonselhof domain, where ONO Architecture is building a new equipment warehouse for the service. At a later date the architects will also renovate the historic Neerhoeve to house the staff. Positioned diagonally to the farmhouse, the new depot is a natural continuation of the walled terrain. The design incorporates two enclosed outdoor spaces to create a landscape infrastructure: a paved zone for the storage of goods in bulk and a green zone to 'park' trees and plants. The building is positioned along an axis through the site and faces the walled square that houses bulk goods. Because of its utilitarian function, the symmetry of the building has a curious monumental appeal, whilst simultaneously appearing like a subdued and useful edifice. The architects have embraced all the quintessential construction components and materials of a typical depot. Their unoriginality is upgraded by using them in a formal configuration.

This text is based on the project text provided by the architects.