Design expansion museum Vincentre in Nuenen
Following the successful presentation of the sketch design in June 2020, in May 2021 Museum Vincentre presented the final design of the expansion, including the accompanying garden. The design is inspired by the time Van Gogh lived and worked in Nuenen. Construction work has now started!
Contemporary long-roofed farmhouse
From an urban planning perspective, the expansion of the current museum fits seamlessly with the municipal structural vision "The World of Van Gogh. In it, quality and experienceability along the ribbon of the Berg have the highest priority. Based on the plot passport drawn up by the municipality, architectural firm diederendirrix has designed an expressive and contemporary version of a long-roofed farmhouse. This does justice to the village and Brabant, with its typical scale of the past.
Natural materials
The new building has a homely character and symbolizes the painter's predilection for ordinary, honest life. The choice of materials for the new building is in keeping with his preference for natural and honest materials and scenes. The striking volume is formed with large, abstract, fired clay tiles. The striking roof is reminiscent of an artisanal barn. At the same time, the red and brown nuances of the tiles will blend into the village context dominated by brick buildings. Details and lintels will be done in metal coated with a dull brown textured paint that matches the character of rusting steel. The interior will be made with rough sawn pine planks on walls and ceilings. The floors will be done in floated concrete. This material again has a lived-in and blended character and can be seen as a contemporary translation of the earlier log floor.
Vincent's Light Lab
In the new building there will be an interactive experience on the theme of light, realized in cooperation with ASML. In Vincent's Light Lab, young and old will explore perspective and light, just as Van Gogh did in his time. Light is color and color is light. But what is color? What is light? What do we actually see? How does that work, experiencing light? Experimentally becoming wiser.
Landscaping
Like a theater set, the garden is composed of an evergreen back wall with a wide variety of leaf shapes and whimsical branches, richly contrasted by a single small, flowering tree. In the foreground is a multicolored floral border, which is slightly elevated and therefore can be viewed up close. The connection between foreground and background refers to Van Gogh's paintings, which include fine foliage, waving grain, blooming and dying flowers and whimsical branches.
The walkable part of the garden consists of a fine semi-paved area. Scattered in it are trees with distinctive bark and transparent foliage. A shallow reflecting pond is located in a clearing. To the side can be parked the bicycles of visitors and volunteers, and waste containers placed. These are surrounded by evergreen shrubs, making them visible but unobtrusive from the street. A transparent fence with a gate separates the garden and protects the bicycles of the volunteers. Rising narrow trees here provide a clear separation from the adjacent property.
On the Berg, the municipality will plant avenue trees, and between the old building and the new building, a small piece of garden will be created as an echo of the garden at the back: a pear tree in a border of various perennials, with a wall of climbing plants as a background.
