Located in Meerstad near Groningen in the Netherlands, design agency De Zwarte Hond designed a multifunctional and adaptative central building, its entire supportive structure made of wood.

Called SuperHub, the building “represents a revitalized circular version of the traditional market hall design.” The supporting structure and roof are made entirely of cross-shaped laminated wooden columns and beams, while the walls are largely made of glass. Additionally, cross forms provide the building with stability, ensuring that no additional wind bracing infrastructure is required.

SuperHub is designed to be a modern symbiosis of a marketplace and shopping centre, where visitors can do their shopping and visit a trendy café. In addition, the structure was built to last and offers the possibility for future adjustments or additions. The flexible, open layout allows for its functions to be reinvented along with the changing needs of the community, meaning that it will not become outdated or be demolished in the future. The building could, for example, accommodate a community centre, a museum, or even homes in 20 years’ time.

The roof of the SuperHub has been reserved for the placement of solar panels and plants for bees and insects. The built-in air treatment installation, as well as the heat and cold ground storage, ensure an optimal and energy-efficient indoor climate. Furthermore, the structure is also designed in such a way that it can absorb and withstand the vibrations of Groningen earthquakes.

Photos: Ronald Tilleman / Ronald Zijlstra via V2com