GAVO
GAV : Master plan Nature- & Recreation park
The recreation area De Gavers has grown from a building excavation for the construction of the expressway E17 to a big lake with a valuable biotope. The lake is also intensively used for water recreation. Therefore a development vision has been made in 2005 by the Province of West-Flanders.
This vision has been translated in a competition that URA won. (GAV) The master plan distributes the recreation infrastructure over various pavilions and introduces a new structure into the landscape.
The main path divides the landscape in various atmospheres, atmospheres in-between land and water, in-between land and forest, in-between forest and brook.
The buildings are located along the main path, always on the junction of different landscapes, and accompany the visitors through the park. Four buildings are individually recognizable by their shape, while integrating in the surroundings by their use of materials and specific architectural accents and exposing the qualities of the location.
The newest building is the information building (GAVO). It is the information pavilion that is the first one on the main path and receives the new visitors.
The building is located on the hinge between land and forest. The building is also interpreted as a hinged volume. By so the different functions and atmospheres are experienced at best.
Three functions are captured in the building: providing information to the visitors and users of the site. For this purpose a desk has been introduced, looking over the main path. From here on one can circulate to a large open space that functions as a restaurant and shelter for big groups of children.
The second function is of an educative kind, to learn children about nature in De Gavers and to investigate that nature. There are a number of classes and a laboratory with a vista on the landscape.
The last function is to provide space for people who divert themselves with the watersports possibilities on site. On top of the information desk a space has been created with a view on the lake, to keep a close eye on everything.
Because of its design the building is immediately recognizable. It absorbs the landscape. The façade is made of wood, just like the other buildings. In this case it’s a structure of slats that wraps the different shapes. Therefore a building with a clear identity to the surroundings arises.
Various sustainable techniques (solar panels, heat pump,...) are being integrated at best in the architecture of the building.
GAV 2005 > 2013
Masterplan, 16 Ha (4500 m² buildings), 10 000 000 euro,
Provinciaal domein de Gavers, Kortrijk, Provincie West-Vlaanderen (Belgium)
GAVO 2009 > 2011
Information pavillon, 950 m², 1 550 000 euro
