STUDIO
BROM

The drilling of gas in Groningen is leading to earthquakes in that area. Most buildings are made of masonry and therefor they cannot take seismic forces that well. I have designed a construction that is able to strengthen masonry buildings to seismic events (focus was on churches). Constructions with this purpose that are used currently in Groningen are made out of lots of timber elements. The space that the construction is using is now useless and the construction is only hindering the users. I wanted to design a construction that, instead of hindering the users, is adding something to the building that it is strengthening for seismic events.

In my design, I am using the construction to introduce a new function in the church. For this new function I want to address another problem. Next to the seismic events, Groningen is facing shrinkage of its population. This can be countered by improving the social cohesion in the society.

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In the past, a church has been the binding element between villagers. But because religion has become less important, this has changed. Hereby the social cohesion of the village has been damaged. By changing the function of the church into one that will be the binding element again, the social cohesion can be restored.

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One of the larger problems of shrinkage is that younger people and businesses are leaving towards the big cities. Because I want to provide more opportunities to ambitious young people, I have chosen to use the extra space for start-ups and small businesses. Also a coffee bar, extra working places and meeting rooms are provided in this building. It will cause much activity in the church and social cohesion is improved.