Center Parcs Cottage in Bispingen, German Architecture, Lower Saxony Building, Photography

Center Parcs Cottage in Bispingen, Lower Saxony

10 November 2023

Architecture and Interior design: concrete

Location: Bispingen, Lower Saxony, Southeast Germany

Photos: Ton Hurks

Center Parcs Cottage, Germany

Concrete and Center Parcs present the Center Parcs Cottage, a place to gather in the heart of nature in Parc Bispinger Heide in Germany.

Center Parcs, renowned for its family-friendly holiday parks in the heart of nature, aimed to enhance its offerings for a broader audience. In response, Concrete developed a new and innovative generation of prototype cottages, rethinking the classic Center Parcs bungalow.

A prototype has been constructed at Parc Bispinger Heide in Germany, now available for rental by guests. Drawing inspiration from the original design by Dutch architects Van den Broek and Bakema, Concrete crafted a contemporary experience, centered around themes of togetherness and nature. Concrete brings its expertise in modular construction to the Center Parcs project, devising a cottage that is sustainable, easy to build, and which imposes very little disruption to its environment.

Finding yourself in nature

At the core of the new design is the concept of finding oneself in nature. The idea was to create spaces where guests could disconnect from the hustle of daily life and reconnect with themselves. The new cottage achieves this by seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces. A floor-to-ceiling glass facade offers uninterrupted views of surrounding nature, making the outdoors feel like an extension of the living room.

A modular cottage for conscious living

The cottage is comprised of two prefabricated modules, containing all essentials – the kitchen, multiple bedrooms, and bathrooms. The modules are connected by the living room, which allows nature to pour in. The living room is not only the connecting space, but also the heart of the cottage. It is bathed in natural light through its expansive windows, which allow views to the front and to the back. Each side of the house offers a different perspective on the beautiful forest outside. In front of the living room, an outdoor private terrace offers guests an intimate space to enjoy the outdoors. Beyond its inspiring views, the cottage offers a truly immersive experience in nature.

Promoting togetherness, the living room is designed around a central oversized dining table, perfect for a board game after dinner. The modular corner couch, inspired by the iconic 1970s Center Parcs style, has been reimagined into a versatile sofa that guests can configure into personalized seating arrangements, accommodating all needs of a modern family.

The project is designed around the principle of modular pre-fabrication, with a hybrid of 2D elements and 3D modules created off-site and quickly assembled in the scenic natural setting. The cottage is easy to install on site, allowing it to be ready for guests in less than 2 weeks.

The architecture of the cottage is simple and unobtrusive, maintaining the tradition of modernist architecture of Van den Broek and Bakema, and ensuring that the outdoors remain a focal point. The influence of the original architects is also evident in the thoughtful clustering of cottages. Adopting Bakema’s favoured technique, the cottages are arranged in a staggered layout, ensuring privacy by shielding views between neighbouring structures. The layout also prevents terraces from intruding upon each other, preserving the overall a sense of serenity.

Sustainable design

The cottage has been carefully designed with a strong emphasis on sustainability and minimal energy consumption. First, the cottage features high-quality insulation, which minimizes heat loss and maximizes energy efficiency. Moreover, only materials of organic origin are used, not only reducing the ecological footprint, but also contributing to a healthier indoor environment. The consistent use of wood on both the exterior and interior blurs the distinction between inside and outside, strengthening the connection to nature. The stone flooring, cross-laminated timber (CLT) ceiling, and spruce wood wall cladding establish a timeless neutral colour palette. The use of durable, high-quality materials minimizes the need for frequent replacement and maintenance.

In terms of energy supply, the cottage operates entirely on electricity, utilizing photovoltaic cells on the roof, and a heat pump for heating and cooling. Combined, all of these features contribute to an eco-friendly and sustainable stay, with preservation of the environment at its core.

Center Parcs Cottage in Bispingen, Germany – Building Information

Architecture and Interior design: concrete – https://concreteamsterdam.nl/center-parcs
Client: Center Parcs, Capelle aan de IJssel (NL)
Office address: oudezijds achterburgwal 78a
Postal code: 1012 DR
City: Amsterdam

Country: The Netherlands
Telephone: +31 (0)20 5200200
E-mail: info@concreteamsterdam.nl
Website: www.concreteamsterdam.nl

Project location
Address: Center Parc Bispinger Heide
City: Bispingen
Country: Germany
Website: www.groupepvcp.com/en/center-parcs/

Project information
Project team concrete: Rob Wagemans, Mark Haenen, Sofie Ruytenberg, Murk Wymenga,
Amandine Marot, Aylin Mutish, Joan Doyer
Start Design: 2020
Opening: Q2 2023
Netto area: 88 m2
Total constructed area: 109 sqm

Project team
Project development: Center Parcs, Capelle aan de IJssel (NL)
Executive architect: ANSSP, Hamburg (DE)
Structural engineer: WP ingenieure, Hamburg (DE)
Modular contractor: Machiels Building Solutions, Genk (BE)
Bathroom supplier: Stengel GmbH, Ellwangen (DE)
MEP contractor: Steinbrink, Lotte (DE)
Shopfitter furniture: Robos, Dalfsen (NL)
Curtains: Vos project, Nijkerk (NL)
Landscape Architect: Jean Henkens, Center Parcs

About Concrete
Founded in 1997, Concrete comprises a team of 52 multidisciplinary creatives who have been developing concepts in architecture, interior design, urban development, and brand development for corporations and institutions.

Concrete stands at the cradle of citizenM hotels worldwide, Urby Living in the US, Zoku Hotels in Europe, and Moos Living in the Netherlands. Other projects include W Hotels in Osaka, London, and Verbier, Mongkok Skypark Hongkong, Andaz Hotel Munich, Manifattura Tabacchi Florence, Restaurant Renilde at Depot Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Virgin Voyages, KLM crown lounge Schiphol, Jeroen Pit Healthcare Huis Amsterdam, and The West Residences NYC.

Concrete is currently engaged in projects for The BoTree hotel in London, as well as for Foret D’or Luxembourg and others.

Photography: Ton Hurks

Center Parcs Cottage, Bispingen, Germany images / information received 101123 from v2com newswire

Location: Bispingen, Lower Saxony, Germany

Architecture in Germany

German Architectural Projects

German Architecture Designs – chronological list

German Architecture News

German Architecture

photo : Werner Huthmacher

German Houses

German Architect

German Buildings

Bauhaus Buildings

Bauhaus Architecture – selection on e-architect

Bauhaus Centenary in 2019, Eisenhüttenstadt, Brandenburg, Eastern Germany
“shaping everyday life! bauhaus modernism in the GDR”
Exhibition dates: 9 April 2019 – 5 January 2020
Bauhaus Centenary in 2019

The Bauhaus Promenade Museum, Dessau, Germany
Design: Matteo Cainer Architects

image from architect
The Bauhaus Promenade Museum

bauhouse 24H Competition, Dessau, Germany
1st prize: Sonya Falkovskaia

image courtesy of designer / 24h
bauhouse Competition

Villa Harnischmacher II, Germany

image courtesy of architects
Villa Harnischmacher II
An iconic Bauhaus villa in Wiesbaden’s city centre by architect Marcel Breuer in 1954.