Location: Utrecht, Netherlands.

Architect: NL Architects.

The University of Utrecht’s campus, de Uithof, is being transformed from a mono-functional non-place into a City, with a compact clustering of University-related buildings. The urban plan by OMA uses a strong site boundary to prevent the scattering of urban stuff over the entire area and enhance City and Landscape at the same time. Recently, restrictions for housing on the campus were abolished, and a local bar was needed to serve as the informal center of the campus. The Uithof café is a 15 x 15 meter extension of the existing bookstore, with an oversized roof of the new bar that looks ‘crushed’ by the Van Unnik Building. The Bar is sunken in the ground, and the lowered position allows for a new perspective on the public square. The ‘orange pool’ brings together a sunken terrace, a mini amphitheater, and the access for the disabled. The XL roof of the café provides the ultimate location for a basketball court, and the middle circle of the court is made out of glass, establishing a visual relation between Basket and Bar.

Photo credit: Jeroen_Musch.