Zernikeborg

The Zernikeborg was the first new building on the Groningen University's rejuvenated campus. The design originated from the area of tension between the university's massive high-rise blocks of the sixties and the abundant presence of public space. The multi- functional educational building - inspired by a Groningen 'borg' (bailey) - is designed as an extraordinary and prominent site, situated on the entrance to this university complex. The building's scale and the eaves of its roof, which gives the impression that you can nearly touch it, offer the building a human scale. The reflection - generated by half of the building being positioned in the water - adds another dimension to the experience. The building forms the hub for the ICT infrastructure in the north of the Netherlands. There was also a need for research areas for the application of computer technology, requiring a minimum of daylight, which more of less explains the appearance of the completed building.