Minnaert Building
Leuvenlaan 4
University center De Uithof
Utrecht
The Netherlands
Neutelings Riedijk Architecten
1997
The Minnaert building is
definitely hard to miss, with its bold, red-painted concrete and worm-like
wave pattern exterior. Another signature feature of this building is the
giant letters that spell "Minnaert" on the ground floor that
occupy one full story. Behind the letters is an area for bike parking for
the students as biking is the main transportation in the Netherlands.
The Minnaert building is within
the De Uithof campus of the Utrecht University. The campus' master plan
was designed by OMA, and is where the OMA educatorium
is located.
The building is designed for
unifying the facilities for education and research that serve the
faculties of Earth Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, and Mathematics and
Computer Science, which are located in the northwestern corner (Noordwesthoek)
of the campus.
As part of the commission for
the building, the architect is required to fulfill the following
requirements: "..the new-build must be realized within ecological
planning constraints - to be specific, a compact built form, ecologically
sound materials, natural ventilation, heat recovery, high-frequency
lighting, water-saving systems and an environment-friendly
restaurant."
One of the visible solutions to
these requirements is the use of water collected to cool off the building.
Rainwater collected on the roof is collected in the pool in the main hall.
Wilma Kwan 2003,
updated 2005
How to visit
The building is open to public.
For more information please visit the University website at www.uu.nl.
To get to and around the
University campus, you can take bus city lines number 11 and 12.
Also you may ride a bike from
the central station. Head east towards Wilhelmina Park. Go through the
park and you will be on Prins Hendriklaan. Pass the Schroder
House and Prins Hendriklaan will turn into Sophocleslaan. From there
make a right on to Platolaan. And then turn left onto Weg Tot de
Wetenschap. Follow it and it will lead you to the entrance of the
University De Uithof campus.
While you are at the University
campus, you may also want to visit: Educatorium
designed by OMA, Rem Koolhaas; the Faculty of Economics and Management
building designed by Mecanoo; the café with basketball court on top
designed by NL Architect; Bijvoet Centre for NMR facilities building
designed by UN Studio.
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