De Oostvaarderskliniek

In a forensic psychiatric clinic, people with tbs are treated. Safety is important here. So this type of building often has a closed character. Not so here. By using a special type of glass in combination with lattice work, the façade of the elongated building volume, which lies parallel to the road, looks very transparent and does not clash with the surrounding houses. In this part of the complex lies an internal street with daylight from above. This gives access to the functional spaces on either side. Doors and walls in this section have round windows, underlining the open character. There is a gallery in front of the rooms on the first floor, spatialising the street. Behind this collective building is a large courtyard with single-storey residential units and workshops, which cannot be seen from the street. The garden with tight strips and flowerbeds provides opportunities for gardening, games and sports. The whole area is surrounded by a concrete wall with vertical fluting. Immediately behind it, strips of woodland have been planted, making the wall barely noticeable from the outside. De Oostvaarderskliniek was elected BNA building of the year in 2009 for its innovative use of materials.