Situated in the horizontal landscape of the Dutch Gelderland, the new city hall of the community of Bronckhorst emerges as a precisely delineated building volume. It is comprised of two angled building strips of varying height, between which a flat roof spans across a double-story hall. Vertical strips of glancing light dramatise the cream-colored masonry brick face via gaps that are placed between roof and walls. The central space ­accesses all public functions on the ground floor, while the upper floors offer a mix of flexible single and group workplaces. This arrangement is balanced by informal ­coffee kitchens and open meeting areas that permit a more personal ­atmosphere. High demands in ecological terms were addressed in the design of the city hall and are incorporated in various measures aimed at saving or generating energy, such as triple glazing, geothermal probes with heat pumps, and rooftop photovoltaic systems. Mechanical ventilation via heat recovery is automatically controlled by CO2 sensors. The building’s visual appearance is characterised by the window shutters made of a white, fibre-reinforced composite material. They serve to provide shade in summer and are closed at night to minimise heat losses. Light, laser printed landscape images cover the shutters, thus incorporating a friendly and poetic aspect within the facade.

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