In a landscape where every small village from afar can be identified by the silhouette of its own church tower, Nieuw-Bergen lacked such a clear landmark. Recently, this need was granted by providing the realization of a landmark building that is part of the village renewal plan. This 'Landmark' is at the core of the plan and marks the marketplace as a clear, central collective space.
The public tower offers views of the surrounding nature reserve. It is a combination between a high, abstract tower and a low base. It accommodates a catering facility, such as a bar or restaurant, an accessible feature that meets the need for a central meeting place in the small village.
The structure has been clad with a combination of green and red bricks. The tower contains a Brazilian bond, with tiny openings, to let light shine through in the evening and then fulfils its position as a beacon. The intention of the design is optimistic and approachable: it aims to be accessible and touchable.
To achieve this, the building is conceived as a small object: abstract from afar and intimate upon a closer position. The red brick is light colored by a cement bath, making patterns emerge that scale down the building and simultaneously enliven it.
The decorated base has the appearance of a house, in line with the intimacy of the surrounding buildings forming the square, on top of which two more abstract volumes are situated. Thus it becomes embedded in the conventional and recognizable. The building is firm and clear, and plays a role as an emblem for this village. At the same time forms an illustration of this fierce ambition, because the monolithic appearance in various places into perspective and shown as "bekleidung”.
An emphatic ambivalence, which is stretched between the worlds of Rossi and Venturi.
Monadnock has studied – and was influenced by the typology of historical Dutch Trade buildings. These odd proportioned buildings are to be found adjacent to market squares in Dutch medieval cities.
A quest in formulating the ambivalent status of this building: as the building is not a church, nor a town hall, but a hoped- for representation of the collective. The planned program of the interior will be a combination of public and commercial.
