Timber Town

An inclusive mixed-use area in Winterswijk, built for and out of wood

Master thesis (2020)

Authors

J.C. Zegers Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

H. Zijlstra Heritage & Design - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 1)
F.W. Koopman (supervisor 1)
A. Straub Public Commissioning - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 2)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2020 Juliëtte Zegers
Architecture Circularity Heritage Wood Redevelopment Sustainabilty Inclusive design
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Published Date

22-06-2020

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

Timber Town is one half of the industrial area in Winterswijk, which was built in the 20th century to support the village’s textile industry. Currently this part of the area is not used to its full potential. The other half of the area still contains a functioning textile factory: Gaudium. Here the profession and skills of working with textiles are present and therefore Gaudium embodies the craftmanship of the past. As for the other half, the focus of the project will be to transform it into an area about future craftmanship. Together the areas will form the new pride of the village. The aim of the project is to react on multiple studies which are conducted on the topic of demographic decline and the measures which can be taken in order to counter this, as Winterswijk is experiencing that. In the first place, the creek will be exposed and will function as the backbone of this project, since it appears to be important for Winterswijk and the industrial area and has great value. A bike lane and parallel walking routes connect the town centre towards the hinterland, where the area functions as transitionary space. Secondly, there will be an introduction of new functions in the area to stimulate mixed-use. The general connecting theme will be timber, hence the name of the project, with a shared timber workshop being the heart of the project. A large part of the other new functions accommodated according to the different typologies of the buildings and accompanying characteristics, have a connection with timber (craftmanship). The whole project will be developed through different stages in time, where it is important for such heritage projects in villages like Winterswijk to grow slowly. Here the goal is to provide something new, but also to keep the memory of the past alive. People of Winterswijk, but also visitors are invited to enjoy the lively public space, the commercial activities and leisure possibilities facilitated in Timber Town. Also, with the use of timber as a building material and the focus on circularity, the topics of sustainability and durability can be made visible and tangible to the wider public and function as an example for the future.