The national monument De Klokkenberg, a former Roman Catholic sanatorium for tuberculosis patients, has been transformed on the initiative of Schonck, Schul & Compagnie from a vacant and dilapidated medical complex into a unique, high-quality residential complex where the landscape qualities uniquely complement the national monument.
MTD landscape architects, in collaboration with Rienks architects, developed an integrated plan to strengthen the Kokkenberg in an urban, architectural and landscape sense as a ‘Gesammt Kunstwerk’. MTD is the author of the urban development plan and has developed it into a design plan for the public space.
While preserving and reinforcing the present cultural-historical values and elements, the complex of introverted, religious sanatorium has been transformed into an extroverted, open residential community in a fantastic landscape setting. The original horizontal articulation of the building is subtly converted into a vertical segmentation and private gardens are introduced between the building and the communal outdoor spaces.
The listed sanatorium building was designed in 1951-1953 by the architects Kees de Bever and Kees van Moorsel in a Traditionalist style. The park and garden layout is designed by Jan Bijhouwer. In 2007, De Klokkenberg, as a reconstruction monument of the welfare state between 1940 and 1958, was nominated for national protection. The ensemble can be divided into a main building, nursing buildings, a chapel, economy building, courtyards and galleries. The main building with the nursing wings for tuberculosis patients is oriented to the southeast, so that a lot of sunlight came in and a wide view from the building of the stream valley of the Mark. The building has a strongly symmetrical layout, with the chapel situated in the axis.
In terms of conceptual approach, the urban, architectural and landscape design is based on achieving a subtle balance between preserving and enhancing the cultural-historical values and adding a new, contemporary layer. This concerns both the programmatic interpretation and the architectural design.
The complex is located in the transition between the Mastbos and the Mark stream valley and is within walking and cycling distance of the city of Breda. The landscape has been kept intact as much as possible and clearly separated from the gardens. The ecological qualities of the landscape have been enhanced and are being extensively managed. This provides space for nature to flourish in all its splendor and diversity; the meadow areas, the water features, the meandering Mark and the forest.
Architecture offices involved in the design: Rienks Architecten
Location: Galderseweg 81 4936AE Breda, The Nederlands
Design year: 2017-2024
