Recreation from the forest is a project from the graduation studio Architectural Engineering at the Delft University of Technology. This research and design project explores local energy potentials from the forest. The project is set in the context of IBA Parkstad, which is an area that was part of the former mine region in the province of Limburg. IBA stands for Internationale Bau Ausstellung and architects were invited to come up with innovative thoughts and projects to give this region an economic impulse. The project specifically focused on the Brunssummerheide. A nature area with a characteristic mining and extraction history.
After the mines closed in the seventies different recreation places in the area disappeared and the forests lost their production function. This project demonstrates how local materials and the landscape could be used in a smart way to reintroduce a recreation place using a lowtech approach.
The project proposes several spa pavilions made of local wood and powered by local biomass from the forest. Wood and biomass can be harvested locally to fill up the base for the pavilions. These bases function as wood compost heat exchangers, a principal from the French inventor and gardener Jean Pain. These can be used to heat the floor, baths and showers of the spa pavilions. That means a unique experience for visitors. Enjoy the forest spa with energy from the forest!
The core of the pavilions is made of stacked pine wood, that was formerly used for the support of the mines. The core facilitates the program of the pavilions and refers to the old mining history of the area.