Utrecht University’s facilities are located on three separate sites in Utrecht.
The university campus De Uithof: all the other faculties are located to the east of the city, on 'De Uithof', whose architectural features draw the attention of architects and enthusiasts from all over the world.

Included buildings (amongst others) are:

The Minnaert Building - Neutelings & Riedijk (1997)
Educatorium - OMA/Rem Koolhaas (1997)
Faculty for Economy and Management - Mecanoo (1995)
University Library - Wiel Arets (2004)
NMR-Building - Ben van Berkel, UN Studio (2001)
Basketbar - NL Partners (2003)

NOTE: The university buildings are not open on Saturday and Sunday.

The Utrecht Centre of Architecture (see below) is easy to get to once you get to the centre of Utrecht. They should be able to provide you with the bus information or other travel information of how to get to the campus.
Should you require more information about architecture in Utrecht (not to mention the famous Reitveld House 1924) please pay a visit to

"Aorta", the Utrecht Centre of Architecture

Architectuurcentrum Aorta
Achter de Dom 14
3512 JP Utrecht
The Netherlands
tel: +31 (0)30 232 1686
fax: +31 (0)30 232 1390
http://www.aorta.nu

i'll start with the latest building... University Library by Wiel Arets.

Probably one of the most impressive projects I saw during my trip, partly due to the lack of expectations I guess.

we were there on a particularly rainy day in the middle of winter, so the greyness just blends in.

The main entrance from street level.

once inside, it's a world of black+white with a touch of red upholstery.

the patterned concrete is the same pattern as on the glass.... here a little detail of the concrete.

at this point, i thought... oh yeah, this is probably just going to be one of those buildings with some funky pattern over a pretty basic spatial configuration... i was proven wrong later... (more of that to come)

here is a shot up one flight of stairs looking back at where we just came from.

this is a corridor space (looking back to where the last shot was taken) that can link this building over the road to the other university buildings, such as going towards the Educatorium.

moving further into the library, you will be greeted with a few multi-storey light atriums...

then eventually, you get to the main loan desk

and the computer catalogue browsing terminals

...and then realise this is in fact a HUGE space

HUGE and complex layering of levels and spaces...
here is a shot looking back towards the loan desk area

with lots of occupiable 'bridges' spanning across the void and over each other

impressive cantilevered stair landing there...

which allows for you to appreciate the various multiple storey spaces.

these spaces happens on both sides of the stair too...
note the various intimate reading/studying areas formed by the various volumes pushed in and out.

the one below is actually on a 'bridge'

more voids...

the same void but on the other side looking at those stair landings

an overall picture of the main void.

at first i thought it could be a very oppressive space being just black+white turns out to be quite amazing, partly due to the generosity of space, but the mono-chromatic qualities make you focus on the books and people, and the spatial qualities is simply awesome, no funky gimmicks... all space. (if that made any sense)

stair detail

cantilevered stair treads

oh, forgot to show you the outdoor courtyard (i guess where people can go out for a cigarette)

loan desk detail

yeah, padded, i know... weird
i guess a bit of softness in all this hard B+W stuff. let's see how long it takes to wear out

one last of the main void.

one last... that bridge that links to the other buildings... here is the outside.

behind that 'cheese' wall is the bus stop from which we caught the bus back into the city centre.

that's all for now. thanks

i'll continue posting the Educatorium next.

That is a really interesting building. Thanks for show us this. I hope you had your red coat that day as well!

Hmm... I guess Kevin was wearing his black coat. So he and Sanaa were matching perfectly with the building! :D
I was wondering about the acoustic qualities or problems due to the fact that the building is all concrete and glass and huge open spaces... How's the acoustic confort?

Hmm... btw, would be nice to have some plans posted.Can't find some on the internet.

Nice series of images-As always you paint a great picture thru the eyes of your camera.

Who was the architect on the project- I can't seem to find that in your description.

I see-
The Minnaert Building - Neutelings & Riedijk (1997)
Educatorium - OMA/Rem Koolhaas (1997)
Faculty for Economy and Management - Mecanoo (1995)
University Library - Wiel Arets (2004)
NMR-Building - Ben van Berkel, UN Studio (2001)
Basketbar - NL Partners (2003)

JP, Wil Arets is the one. More info on WIL ARETS (http://www.wielarets.nl) (Just had a quick check at his website but found no info on the project...)

Thanks for the link Michel.

I dislike those over designed websites. You have to go thru so many bells and whistles to get to an image...makes it not even fun to navigate thru it.

Haven't been to Utrecht for quite a while. Seems I have to go again soon.
Did you get to see more buildings by Arets in the Netherlands? In Maastricht, Amsterdam or Heerlen?

Did you get to see more buildings by Arets in the Netherlands? In Maastricht, Amsterdam or Heerlen?

nein, nein und nein... :(

The library was recently featured in Detail Vol3 of this year. I'll see if I can get some scans together and a little more info on the conceptual approach.

tr

The library was recently featured in Detail Vol3 of this year. I'll see if I can get some scans together and a little more info on the conceptual approach.

tr
In case you want to download details, go directly to the DETAIL (http://www.detail.de/Archiv/En/HoleArtikel/5487/Artikel) website. Pretty expensive unless you're already a Detail subscriber.

Amazing interiors! :eek:
Thank you very much for posting Kevin. :not worth
A great restart for the Travel Forum.



Hmm... btw, would be nice to have some plans posted.Can't find some on the internet.

Where's Frenchy our official googlemaniac?

In case you want to download details, go directly to the DETAIL (http://www.detail.de/Archiv/En/HoleArtikel/5487/Artikel) website. Pretty expensive unless you're already a Detail subscriber.

I've got the volume in my hand...and it is one of my favorite magazines. There is a ton more info, especially since this particular volume is about concept. The client even has a 2 page piece on the project. Wiel has an interview on the concept, there is plenty of data on materiality, there is a user survey, and there are 4 details specifically about the facade. Pretty extensive info on this project, for those that have access to it...

I'm not sure, though, what the legalities of replicating this on a forum thread are...

tr

I've got the volume in my hand...and it is one of my favorite magazines. There is a ton more info, especially since this particular volume is about concept. The client even has a 2 page piece on the project. Wiel has an interview on the concept, there is plenty of data on materiality, there is a user survey, and there are 4 details specifically about the facade. Pretty extensive info on this project, for those that have access to it...

I'm not sure, though, what the legalities of replicating this on a forum thread are...

tr
Got it too at home... I guess that as long as you mention its copyrighted Detail there is no problem.

No directions!! Shame on you Kevin !!:rolleyes:

Here the .kmz (low res but with street names on)

Haven't been to Utrecht for quite a while. Seems I have to go again soon.
Did you get to see more buildings by Arets in the Netherlands? In Maastricht, Amsterdam or Heerlen?
I've seen his Art School in Maastricht (the one with glass blocks): very interesting lighting and play with scales (see the El Croquis on Arets);
His police station in Vaals, near Maastricht was very beautiful too in 1997 (I don't know how it looks like now)... If you go to Vaals, you should see the monastery made by Vanderlaan too.

No directions!! Shame on you Kevin !!:rolleyes:


as stated in the first post, when visiting Utrecht, one should always visit the Aorta Utrecht Architecture Centre for latest information about architecture in Utrecht. They will give you instructions and maps on how to get there. :D

as stated in the first post, when visiting Utrecht, one should always visit the Aorta Utrecht Architecture Centre for latest information about architecture in Utrecht. They will give you instructions and maps on how to get there. :D

:not worth

they are very helpful and situated in the heart of the city centre, very easy to get to

Visited the Uithof a few months ago.

A new building by EEA (Eric van Egeraat Architects) was opened at the campus. Where Wiel Arets is more into Zen, van Egeraat calls his work Modern Baroque. The interior of the ABC Faculty is very sensual with it's bright red and yellow colors. Three open conical spaces punch through the floors bordered with glass walls. They bring sunlight all down to the lower floors.

I only had my small digital camera; it's not Swank-E's quality but gives an idea.

another one

escalators cut through the open spaces

and the last one

waow! that's barrrooooooque!!!:D

Sure you watched this thread:
http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3710

When I was in Utrecht, it could have been the same winter as when Kevin visited the town - I remember also having a lot of fun exploring the temporary student dormitory made of "spaceboxes" (http://www.spacebox.info/) built on a muddy plot right behind the library. I actually spotted the from one of the upper levels of the library.

I'm only not sure whether this photo (taken from the spacebox website) is shot in Utrecht as there are more of them being used in various parts of the Netherlands.

at first i thought it could be a very oppressive space being just black+white turns out to be quite amazing, partly due to the generosity of space, but the mono-chromatic qualities make you focus on the books and people, and the spatial qualities is simply awesome, no funky gimmicks... all space. (if that made any sense)

Thats interesting Kevin, In the Brisbane Museum Vs Guginheim thread there seems two be to schools of thought, either a museum should be a place to display art, or a sculpture in its self.

Its interesting that you believe this building works very well as a pared back object, allowing the best display of its contents.

A few pics from my university journey to Amsterdam, Hilversum, Rotterdam and Utrecht 05/2006:
University of Utrecht Library

an other view

inside

inside2

inside3

The library is really great and really huge...
The facade: protects of the sun, is art ( a motive by a nederlands artist was taken for the glass prints)

The area around the university has really lots of good architecture...
In nearer surrounding to the Library of Wiel Arets is the OMA Educatorium...

going inside

The walls and the roof get together...; it`s similar to MVRDVs building for the TV station

Building damage: the roof inside on first floor...
- but you can see the materials which were used...:D :D :D

to the auditoriums...

to the first floor...

The Minnaert

place for bikes. going inside

on first floor...areas with waters and the other side:

the boxes for learning, reading, communicating, etc....;)

so: the Wiel Arets library in background, the OMA Educatorium to the left, the Minnaert in the near, and the "Basket bar" > this place is a good place for architecture.

Wow! Utrecht has gone from low-res to VERY- high RES!

Check it out in my previous kmz, here a sample.

::rolleyes: I am sure this is because of the high density of good architecture there...:P


...but the google earth has really a good res on Utrecht

::rolleyes: I am sure this is because of the high density of good architecture there...:P


...but the google earth has really a good res on Utrecht

This is new, as of the 1st of October almost all Holand is extremely-hi-res!

Exterior of Minnaert, with skin that looks like giant slugs have crawled under it, the colour of a cockroach wing..
"Bearing the name of Marcel Minnaert, a renowned Dutch astrophysicist, the Minnaert building houses facilities for Utrecht University's geophysics department. It also forms an important constituent of OMA's masterplan for the university campus, consolidating and linking a disparate cluster of existing buildings on the northwest part of the site. As with the striking little building for Veenman Printers (p62), Neutelings Riedijk rework and redefine a standard programme to generate a sense of experiential diversity and surprise."
- http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3575/is_1225_205/ai_54405357

After a dinky little entrance with terrible balustrades, you emerge into the cavernous 'foyer' , the two rising platforms on the right are stairways down into spaces of way too many doors.. extremely confusing building..

pool..

A bit of perforated ceiling in one of the lecture rooms.. that you may be lucky to come across while trying to find your way around.. sorry such bad picture quality

another lecture hall

the study pods a-la train carriage.. very cozy, great on a grey day

for more flattering images of this fantastic place-
http://www.dezeen.com/2007/12/14/aa-hijmans-van-den-bergh-medical-faculty-by-erick-van-egeraat
hmm.. yes, the entry

Thank you Erick! we love colour.. really made you (my friend & I) want to be a medical student for a bit

what looks like a Murano glass chandelier

Study pods, variation came with built in lights and tables

locker room, the numbers are laser cut into chrome..

structure inside entry cone

by Rudy Uytenhaak Architectenbureau BV, 1999
if you're a student and like to climb.. this is the building for you
located behind the library.. hard to miss
hope someone can post better pictures of it

more De Uithof Campus pics I took last October 2007.

Educatorium

educatorium...

.....

....

. .

and more.... I love this "I" beam detail.... looks like someone just drop it there. so simple...

last pics of educatorium building.... I really love it. It´s already known that you have to walk the building to really know it. But those words didnt mean that much for me until I visit this building. Have the same impression with the Kunsthal in Rotterdam.

Faculty for Economy and Management - Mecanoo (http://www.mecanoo.com/)

..

...great table design