Where there is vacancy, there is space for new use. The Netherlands is in dire need of such space. The country is densely populated, the distances are short and there is a general need to renovate cities with respect for the existing quality. As a result of economic and social changes, thousands of buildings have lost their function: offices, farms, churches, factories, warehouses, schools, stations, shops, community centres, town halls, etc. All these redundant buildings contribute to the urgency of conversion and redevelopment.
This exhibition shows how outdated buildings that have lost their initial functions can be repurposed while retaining their historical features. Adaptive re-use often produces surprising combinations, such as a school in a factory, a shop in a church, or a recreational area in a military defense line. Reused buildings are often the place makers that trigger area developments and provide these with a familiar and recognizable heart.
Opens Mon-Sat, 9am-4pm.