Reset Architecture

Museum Romeins Halder

Museum Romeins Halder
Frontal view of the east facade. New three meter ten high steel doors are placed behind the existing barn doors.. Image © Stijn Poelstra

MUSEUM ROMEINS HALDER

Reset Architecture

ARCHITECTS
Reset Architecture

CATEGORY
Museum, Adaptive Reuse

PHOTOGRAPHS
Stijn Poelstra

YEAR
2017

LOCATION
Sint-michielsgestel, The Netherlands

MANUFACTURERS
Geberit, JUNG, Claytec, Duco, Isovlas, Jansen, ODS, Petersen Tegl, Sphinx, Viabizzuno, Electra, Klöckner metals, Nature Association Brabantslandschap, ODS Nederland, Steward Design Panels

PRODUCTS USED IN THIS PROJECT
Switches

AREA
126 m²

DESIGN TEAM
Theo Mathijssen, Tess Landsman

CONTRACTOR
De Visser / Bouwgroep Moonen

CLIENT
Brabantslandschap

Text description provided by architect.

Reset Architecture transforms a barn at a historical estate into a museum. This project addresses a current theme of the changing countryside that is no longer mainly used for agriculture. Within this context of change the intention of this project originated from preservation; sharing the past of a beautiful location.

Museum Romeins Halder
View of the south façade with an old bakehouse in the background.. Image © Stijn Poelstra
Museum Romeins Halder
The museum is set up in a barn in a beautiful nature area at the 17th century Haanwijk estate. . Image © Stijn Poelstra

The architecture of this adaptive reuse project does not react to history in a nostalgic or thematic way, it uses a more context sensitive approach. The interior has changed to a level in which the old and new merge but still are, without hierarchy, visually present.

As a result the new setting evokes a self-evident presence that relates to the characteristics of the natural scenery. The Museum Roman Halder houses archaeological artifacts. Halder was a notable settlement where pottery and metal objects where produced during Roman times. Nearby the archaeological site, the museum is set up at the Haanwijk estate.

Museum Romeins Halder
Limited changes have been made to the exterior of the barn. The entrance is marked but otherwise the appearance of the barn, that adjoins the monumental building, remains intact.. Image © Stijn Poelstra
Museum Romeins Halder
View from one of the tree lanes in the landscape to the gate to the main house.. Image © Stijn Poelstra

The 17th century estate is located in a beautiful nature area at the river Dommel, located in-between Eindhoven and ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. A system of well-perceived tree lanes, woods and fields provide a surprisingly quiet countryside feel, situated not far away from urban surroundings. T

he new museum accentuates the societal value and historical significance of the site. It is the start of further big plans to musealise the nature reserve and renovation of the listed buildings on the estate by the owner; Nature Association Brabantslandschap.

Museum Romeins Halder
A new wooden volume in the interior of the barn presents itself in the north facade and forms the entrance.. Image © Stijn Poelstra
Museum Romeins Halder
The wooden volume is positioned in an oblique line in the plan, this creates a surprising spatial effect. It opens up the view and emphasises the size of the space.. Image © Stijn Poelstra
Museum Romeins Halder
Poplar wooden slats acoustic wall . Image © Stijn Poelstra

A PINHOLE SHOEBOX SCENE

The barn is transformed with one simple architectural intervention. A new wooden volume in the longitudinal direction of the barn provides the museum with 3 zones. The ground floor is divided into reception- and exhibition spaces.

The first floor is used as a study space for archaeological research. The wooden volume is positioned in an oblique line in the plan, this creates a surprising spatial effect. It opens up the view and emphasises the size of the space.

Museum Romeins Halder
The barn is insulated with flax in timber framed walls and roof and finished with clay plaster and . poplar from the estate.. Image © Stijn Poelstra
Museum Romeins Halder
The interior is a quiet and elegant background for the exhibition and a smooth continual factor of the landscape outside. . Image © Stijn Poelstra
Museum Romeins Halder
A look into the exhibition spaces, where the concentration on a small Roman object becomes easier.. Image © Stijn Poelstra

It is a bold move that could easily have been predominant in the experience of space.However, this optically effect is further enhanced by a sloping line in the railing that helps to balance out the perception of the perspective and creates a calm environment.

Limited changes have been made to the exterior of the barn. The entrance is marked but otherwise the appearance of the barn, that adjoins the monumental building, remains intact.

Museum Romeins Halder
Optically effect of a sloping line in the railing that helps to balance out the perception of the perspective and creates a calm environment.. Image © Stijn Poelstra

The barn was efficiently built in a time of scarcity after the Second World War. Four atypical cruck timber frames are the most characteristic elements that indicate this era. The wood is unpolished rough but the carpentry is made with great craftsmanship.

This combination of raw materials and sophisticated detailing is inspiring; it’s an approach that has been adopted in the new design. The most dominant new element is the delicate wood finished wall.

Museum Romeins Halder
Entrance view in the main reception space.. Image © Stijn Poelstra

Poplar wooden slats in three sizes are arranged in a continuous rhythm so that the vertical support structure of the railing remains out of sight. The Poplar originates from the Haanwijk estate. It is a special cut for this project from wood whose quality would not meet regular standards.

The approach of raw and refined also shows in the diligent polished barn-like concrete floor that did not receive any further finishing material. Reset architecture embraced the “farmer's efficiency” and continued the method of not doing more than necessary in a local and sensibly way.

Museum Romeins Halder
© Stijn Poelstra
Museum Romeins Halder
The first floor is used as a study space for archaeological research.. Image © Stijn Poelstra

Most materials are bio-based. The barn is insulated with flax in timber framed walls finished with clay plaster. However, the interior does not present itself as a distinctive eco-architecture. The interior is a quiet and elegant background for the exhibition and a smooth continual factor of the landscape outside.


Museum Romeins Halder
Model
Museum Romeins Halder
South Elevation
Museum Romeins Halder
East Elevation
Museum Romeins Halder
North Elevation


Museum Romeins Halder
Sectin 01
Museum Romeins Halder
Section 02
Museum Romeins Halder
Section 03 + Detail


Museum Romeins Halder
Ground Floor Plan
Museum Romeins Halder
First Floor Plan
Museum Romeins Halder
Site Plan

Reset Architecture
T +31 73 7074838
Reset Architecture
Veemarktkade 8, 5222 AE 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands