Location: Tiel, Netherlands.

Architect: De Zwarte Hond.

The new culture building in Tiel, called “Zinder”, is a vibrant and stimulating cluster that offers a range of activities for the inhabitants of Tiel and the surrounding area. The building was designed by De Zwarte Hond and commissioned by Koninklijke VolkerWessels. The project is part of the municipality’s plan to boost the attraction of the city, with a focus on the river Waal and improving access to the city centre. Zinder is a key component of these plans, with a raised culture podium that blurs the boundaries between inside and outside. The building houses Zinder Education, the centre for the arts, and a public library. The façade of Zinder Education is made up of faceted aluminium elements, anodised with a golden colour, while the library has a chiselled stone façade. The central entrance hall links the two volumes and provides a space for visitors to meet and inspire each other. The multi-functional hall accommodates 320 people and can be used for exhibitions or pop music concerts. The outdoor plaza flows subtly into the interior, and the sculptural staircase is the eye-catcher providing access to the studios, classrooms and offices on the various floors. The project is a Design-Build-Maintain-Operate project, with a consortium of Koninklijke VolkerWessels companies responsible for the construction and Facilicom Services Group responsible for maintenance. The landscape design was done by De Zwarte Hond in collaboration with Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners. Zinder is a stunning building and a fantastic stimulus for Tiel and the wider region, especially as regards cultural life.

Photo credit: Scagliola Brakke.