Nieuwe Nor
From screeching iron to screaming guitars. The expansion of the pop venue Nieuwe Nor in Heerlen, The Netherlands involved clearing the buildings adjacent to the former 19th-century construction workshop to accommodate a larger stage. Architect Rob Meurders of diederendirrix opted for a modern design that still honours the city's historical roots. Reynaers Aluminium proved to be the ideal partner to complete this one-of-a-kind renovation project.
Architect Rob Meurders of diederendirrix has brought history and modernity together at Nieuwe Nor in Heerlen.
"A gift" is how Rob Meurders describes the design brief for the expansion of this music hall. "I know Heerlen pretty well. I was raised here, went to school in this city, even met my wife not that far away from this venue. On top of that, I am a big music lover, so I was immediately drawn to the Nieuwe Nor project."
After Heerlen's coal mines closed down in the 1970s, the city underwent a huge transformation. The street in front of the Nieuwe Nor was once the city canal; today, the building faces a modest courtyard, with the mediaeval Landsfort Herle tower visible in the distance. The architect continues: "You will find history around every corner. My idea was to create a building that would resonate with all these historical narratives. I wanted the people of Heerlen to embrace and love this new meeting point."
Cultural impulse
The municipality of Heerlen wanted to build a larger stage at the venue to give a cultural impulse to the modest Dutch town. The funds were provided in cooperation with the Province of Limburg, while IBA (Internationale Bau Ausstellung) money was released as well. The existing part of Nieuwe Nor only housed a café and a small hall, with the artist entrance and dressing rooms on the first floor. The idea was to build a welcoming concert hall that could enrich the Pinkpop festival region.
A glance into the past
Nieuwe Nor was once a hardware store and construction workshop, and this industrious past inspired Meurders early on in the design stage: "While the adjacent buildings to the left of the Nor were demolished, I wanted to bring the past and present together in the new building, where the new stage and loading dock are situated now. That is why the façade looks like it is made of a solid iron plate."
"The rust-brown colour refers to the past of the scrap metal trade; if you walk around the neighbourhood, you can see the same colour is also used in many other historical buildings in the city. Once inside, it is impossible to ignore the large window in the façade, overlooking the Schelmenhofje, a small courtyard opposite the new building."
From the outside, you can see that the height of the window frame keeps pace with the ornamental façade of the old building on the right. The steelwork in front catches your attention, while the joinery systems behind it are subtly integrated. In consultation with ASW Gevelbouw, architect firm diederendirrix opted for Reynaers Aluminium's trusted ConceptSystem 77 windows and doors. "To stay within budget, we had to switch from steel to aluminium. Thanks to Reynaers Aluminium, we were able to implement the perfect solution to match my vision", adds Meurders.
"I just hope people see that this is a sensitive building, that they can feel a lot of love went into this project."
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Rob Meurders, architect at diederendirrix
Optimal acoustics
Besides the architectural incorporation, the architect had another challenge: ensuring optimal acoustics. Meurders explains: "The building is enclosed on all sides, almost like a casting mould. To ensure perfect acoustics, we designed a box-in-a-box construction - an inner wall, cavity and an outer wall that do not touch one another. We avoided creating an elongated shape, as that would detract from the experience and intimacy. We even called in a sound expert to get the acoustics just right for this specific building. In the end, we had just enough space to build the room exactly as we wanted it, with an optimal sound experience for all."
But what about loud music finding its way outside? Here again, Reynaers Aluminium offered the answer. Airtight ConceptSystem 77 windows not only ensure optimal indoor conditions, they also limit noise pollution outside of the building. While big crowds can enjoy concerts inside Nieuwe Nor, people on the street can discover Heerlen in peace.
Award-winning design
In 2022, Nieuwe Nor won the award for best music venue in Limburg. "And I hope my design contributed to that", says the architect modestly. "The people of Heerlen can be quite a critical crowd, so for some it may not be love at first sight, but rather an icon in the making. I just hope people see that this is a sensitive building, that visitors can feel that a lot of love and effort went into it."
One year later, the iron-clad project won the 2023 Projectprijs, a competition held by Reynaers Aluminium in The Netherlands. Out of dozens of candidates, a professional jury and the public vote declared Nieuwe Nor to be the rightful winner, thanks to its striking yet harmonious choice of materials. The grand prize of € 2,500 was donated to a local charity organisation chosen by the winning architect firm.
