Oranje Huis – Moviera Utrecht
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Open, safe
and connecting
Moviera offers advice, help and shelter to people facing domestic violence. The organization’s integral approach aims to sustainably restore safety in the families involved and to prevent the recurrence of violence. Moviera wanted to increase its (acute) shelter capacity and thus decided, for the first time in its history, to commission a new construction. We had the pleasure of designing two new Moviera facilities at two very different locations in Utrecht and Arnhem.
Securely connected
The new facility in Utrecht has been built in the Leidsche Rijn district, in a neighbourhood where, in addition to homes, there are also shops, offices and gyms. In terms of volume and construction, the building fits in nicely with the area’s urban design. For the client, it was very important to create a safe environment; for example, the children staying at the shelter should be able to play outside without anyone having to worry. Moreover, the building needed to be well connected to the surrounding neighbourhood. Openness was key: the problems that Moviera aims to solve should not be hidden away from society.
Family heart
Around the building, which consists of two volumes and a private garden, the site has been kept as open as possible. When you walk through the entrance, you are immediately in the heart of the building. There is a direct view of the garden and a family room where partners/families can meet and work on their relationship. There is also a large communal area on the ground floor for meetings, lectures and birthday parties. This space also forms a safe, yet imperceptible buffer between visitors and the residents.
Flexible, sustainable
Living rooms and bedrooms can be switched flexibly depending on the influx of residents. This flexibility allows Moviera to offer comfortable accommodation to clients with and without children. Much of the building’s electricity is generated by solar panels on the roof. Everything is aimed at helping people facing domestic violence get through a difficult period so that, after a little while, they can move on strengthened and with a new perspective.
“Being asked to design a shelter for victims of domestic violence is an especially great honour.”
“Being asked to design a shelter for victims of domestic violence is an especially great honour.”
Project data
- Location
- Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Functie
- 42 guest rooms, offices, multifunctional spaces
- Size
- 3,100 m² GFA
- Period
- 2018 – 2022
- Status
- Complete
- Client
- Moviera
- User
- Moviera
- Team
- Tim Loeters, Maarten de Werk, Nafthaly de Graaf, Geert Jan van de Rakt, Joris Alofs
- In collaboration with
- Van Rossum, Technion, NormNed, Van Wijnen, Bectro
- Photography
- Hanne van der Woude, William Moore, NewSolar (Drone)
Related projects
Oranje Huis – Moviera Arnhem
Arnhem, the Netherlands
Het Gasthuis at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
