Bastion of Creativity

For the Stylos 24 hour competition we were tasked to restore and redevelep Bastion Orange in Naarden. This place has a rich history and is one of the few remaining star shaped bastions in the Netherlands. Naarden used to be one of the key parts of the dutch ‘waterlinie’ which was the primary defense for parts of the Netherlands. The entire area around this fort can be flooded to block passage.

There is a large demand for designer products and art in Naarden. So much so that one of the most well known designers in the Netherlands,  Jan des Bouvrie, moved his studio to Naarden. After this naarden became a place designers and artists wanted to work. We decided to create a space for these artists and designers in Naarden. The old barracks of bastion oranje will be turned into studios where creatives can create. We also added an exhibition space where these creatives can show off their work. We added social core between the barracks with a beergarten and a restaurant, this way the people of Naarden can come and have a drink or bite when they come to the new creative hub. On top of the barracks is one of the main hiking routes of Naarden, where everyone walks their dogs and comes leisurely. Next to this path we added some small studios where artist can temporarily work and exhibit their work, allowing people to look inside during their hikes. Finally we created an Experience hallway, which is home to temporary art and light installations that are aimed to give the user a unique experience.

Collaboration with Maarten Menssink
Jury voted: ‘Most realistic project’