In my opinion, the primary goal of a piece of architecture should always be to connect to the people of a certain place, by tapping into the history and specificities of that place. This necessity is put into words and understood tacitly because of the existence of the opposite. In this project is strived to find a method how to work towards this goal working from something that can be perceived as an opposite: a dysfunctional shopping center in the inner city of Nijmegen called ‘De Molenpoort’.
The question of how to meaningfully reconnect the existing building fabric to the city should be answered on multiple scales. First, it is important to understand how the city came into being and how it relates to ‘De Molenpoort’. The shopping center, as it manifests itself currently, seems to fit into the debate, raised by Marc Augé, of ‘place and non-place’. The characteristics of a non-place are present in shopping center but also in the streets around it – the main function of the inner city of Nijmegen has become shopping and therefore mainly hosts the anonymous movement that can be associated with this function. The city is therefore in need of true anthropological places.
In order to come to a true community place, firstly, people who are related in some way should be able to assemble there to communicate. In order to find a program that supports this, the needs of society are reassessed. Herein the concept of recreation has taken on a central position in this research. The performance of art provides the possibility for people to connect and express their unique individuality.
Secondly, the singular and uniqueness of the existing building should be highlighted. This is done by taking on the attitude of the bricoleur and pruning away the things that are not needed. It is sought to look at the existing spatial and material elements in a new way, and make them come to their full potential. Lastly, it is sought to preserve the memory of ‘De Molenpoort’. In this inspiration was found in the book on Adhocism by Jencks and Silver.
One of the most characteristic elements of the existing shopping center is its gigantic and heavy parking deck. The drawing of a demolotion plan, made the amount of removed concrete clear. It is decided therefore, to radically reuse the concrete by tactically cutting it in rectangular pieces. The façade is a product of change, a recreation, but is by definition not static. The panels invite appropriation by the citizens and consequently record the stories that take place around it. It becomes more than just a building by, for example, bringing what happens inside, into the city by hosting works of art.