Wilgenborg for Blauwestad / 2017
The green cathedral in Blauwestad is entitled 'Wilgenborg' and is a living structure. The Wilgenborg has dimensions of 48 by 33 meters and a height of 12 meters.
The historic Winschoter fortress, which, like the Wilgenborg, had nine bastions, served as a model for the ground plan. The Wilgenborg can be seen from the A7 motorway. In 2021, a very long bicycle bridge came alongside so the Winschoter population can cycle directly to De Wilgenborg. It is a green and social place to dream away under the canopy or to hold a performance or festival, a place to come together.
The population of Blauwestad and Winschoten is closely involved in its creation, as is the province of Groningen. The maintenance is done by the local inhabitants as a neighborhood participation project.
It is a growing structure, so the Wilgenborg will become increasingly green and stronger over the years. In the long term, the strength of willow together (‘bau-botanical’-construction) with the steel construction will be so strong that a tent design is added in the summer period, creating a flat floor theatre. The visual shows the state of De Wilgenborg after approximately 10 years of intensive growth and maintenance (in collaboration with the companies TenTech BV and Van Aalsburg plus Wageningen University and the Wageningen Research foundation).
http://www.merijnvrij.nl/#/wilgenborg/