Islands of Refuge
Reframing the concept of refuge in Ter Apel
C. van der Maas (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
S.M. Witteman – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
S. Corbo – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
This project is situated within the context of Groningen and Drenthe, regions in the Netherlands with a long history of extractive economic processes that have left deep scars on both the landscape and the daily lives of residents. In response to these long-term impacts, the Dutch government introduced Nij Begun, a 30-year plan aimed at building a better future for Groningen and North Drenthe. The plan focuses on areas affected by decades of gas extraction and recurring earthquakes, which have caused severe damage to buildings as well as economic and mental harm to local communities.
Within this context, the project addresses the village of Ter Apel in southeast Groningen, where the assignment is to develop a new tourism hub aligned with the ambitions of Nij Begun. Ter Apel is nationally known for its asylum seeker centre and the challenges associated with overcrowding, resulting in social tension and unsafe conditions for both asylum seekers and the local community.
At the centre of the village stands the only surviving rural monastery in northwestern Europe. Historically, the monastery functioned as a place of sanctuary, contemplation, and community, embodying a long tradition of hospitality and refuge. In its current role as a museum, however, it largely functions as a static representation of the past.
This project explores how Ter Apel’s monastic heritage can be reinterpreted to redefine the meaning of refuge in a contemporary context. By moving beyond the monastery’s current museum function and integrating tourism with social hospitality, the project proposes a new tourism hub that responds to both local challenges and regional ambitions.