Under one roof

Architect Vera Yanovsifichfinsky's new community center in Almelo, The Netherlands presents itself outwardly with the concise claim: "Eenheid in Verscheidenheid," "unity in diversity or in short, "Eninver." Located in a prominent spot directly adjacent to the train station and right at the border of the two quarters Aalderinkshoek and Kerkelanden, the complex offers residents u both neighborhoods a broad palette of diverse programs. Along with two separate community offices are three elementary schools, a kindergarten, a daycare center, various social and cultural facilities, as well as a youth center.

To integrate the ambitious project optimally in the the heterogeneous urban context, Vera Yanovshtchinsky developed a long, stretched out, angularly cut ensemble of buildings that are developed with either two or three stories depending on the surrounding buildings. The central eye-catcher is the conspicuous facade design with aluminum windows and horizontally arranged filer arranged fiber cement tiles of various widths in the colors blue-gray, light gray, white, and beige. The richly contrasting details emphasize the elegantsmooth character of the new construction. At the same lime, time, they offer a lively, but homogeneously designed accent to the heavily traveled intersection Aalderinkssingel/Apollolaan and in this way create a distinct symbol for the planned urban conversion of the area near downtown.

The development of the various facilities at the district center occurs via a shared foyer at the core of the new construction that is opened by circular skylights. depending on the occasion for the visit, one arrives from here either in the publicly accessible area along the two streets Aalderinkssingel and Apollolaan or in the back-facing building wing with the schools and the adjacent schoolyard. To emphasize the autonomy of each user, all of the facilities have an individual entrance in addition to the common entrance.

Looking back, Vera Yanovshtchinsky says, "To arrive at an optimal solution we worked together closely with all later users already at the beginning of the planning phase." Building on this intense dialogue with the various parties, in the end it was possible to com¬bine the wish for a recognizable identity with the need for functions useful for the community and the demand mandated by urban planning of a homogeneous exterior. "The various facilities thus profit from one another in this way without losing their autonomy." An important result of the close collaboration N-vas the integration of the foyer: not originally foreseen in the spatial program and first developed over the course of the planning in consultation with all involved. "In the light-flooded space, the most varied activities, such as festivals or for example markets, can take place," says Vera Yanovshtchinsky. "Without any necessary conversion, the broad wood stairway between the two levels can also be used as flexible seats." A further result of the dialogue with the users is the adaptive color design in the interior space of the new building: In order to also emphasize their autonomy here, each facility had the opportunity to select its own coloring for halls and walls from a select palette.

Community Center Eninver Almelo, Netherlands
Vera Yanovshtchinsky Architecten, Den Haag, www.vya.nl
Completion 2008

Written for 91° magazine, www.cembrit.com