Every year, Dutch Design Awards (DDA) celebrates the best of Dutch design. This year during Dutch Design Week (DDW) we will announce a new DDA winner on DDW TV every afternoon for eight days. The fourth category is Habitat! And the winner is… NL Architects X deMunnik-deJong-Steinhauser architectencollectief E.A. with their project Forum Groningen.
Forum Groningen | NL Architects X deMunnik-deJong-Steinhauser architectencollectief E.A.
After a long wait and the necessary setbacks along the way, the Forum Groningen opened in the heart of the Grote Markt. An impressive, unique volume that understands the art of fitting in and gives the direct surroundings a new impetus. Inside, a central atrium connects six floors with open spaces and squares, with a panoramic roof the Hoge Markt as highlight. Forum Groningen is a cultural warehouse full of books, exhibition spaces, cinemas and restaurants that blurs the traditional boundaries between cultural functions and with a focus on meeting and connecting. Information is provided thematically in the Forum and transcends the various mediums. The building is a kind of life-sized search engine, designed for endless browsing; you will find more than you were looking for.
— ‘With Forum Groningen, NL Architects and deMunnik-deJong-Steinhauser have succeeded in realising a remarkable enrichment for the community and a new urban symbol for Groningen’ - the jury.
Jury statement
Forum Groningen is a public building that literally and figuratively cannot be ignored due to its size and impact. The way in which this building fits in with the context of the historic inner city of Groningen is nothing less than courageous, both in terms of urban planning and architecture. The designers have tackled the necessary challenges, such as the effects of the economic crisis and strict standards regarding earthquake resistance, with gusto. NL Architects, deMunnik-deJong-Steinhauser and the local municipality have succeeded in keeping the objective in focus: that the Forum must be a meeting place for residents of the city. Forum Groningen is thereby a remarkable enrichment to the community and also a new urban symbol for Groningen.
Habitat
This category is about design and layout of private and public spaces that have a positive influence on the quality of life. From infrastructure to interiors and from cultural to commercial, permanent or temporary.
Committee: JaapJan Berg, Carolien Ligtenberg, Cees van der Veeken, Ellen van der Wal, Jan Nauta.
The other nominees in this category were Studio Ossidiana with their project Paper Gardens en Korthtielens with their project De Molenwiek.
DDA20 on DDW TV
For eight days, we will announce the winner of each category every afternoon at 16:00h during ‘DDA Award Show Live’ on DDW TV. These afternoons are hosted by none other than Isolde Hallensleben and give us the opportunity to take a closer look at the three nominees per category. From 17 to 24 October you can watch the DDA Award Show Live at 16:00 on ddw.nl.