architectuurcentrum aorta, utrecht

You will be guided around one or more of the following buildings in the De Uithof complex, depending openinghours and which day of the week the tour takes place: the Educatorium by Rem Koolhaas/OMA (1997), the Minnaert-building by Neutelings Riedijk Architecten (1997), the faculty for Economy and Management by Mecanoo (1995) and the University Library by Wiel Arets (2004).

This excursion also emphasizes the urban structure of De Uithof, the urban plan that was designed by Art Zaaijer/OMA (1986). This plan answered to the existing structure, which hardly took into account the original landscape formed by the Hollandse Waterlinie, the famous Dutch water defence system. The buildings erected in the so-called ‘kasbah-zone’ illustrate the urban development master plan. The landscape structure is designed by West 8.

During the tour, you’ll also pass by the NMR-building by Ben van Berkel, UN Studio’s (2001), the glossy Basketbar by NL Partners (Rietveld Prize 2003). On request, several other buildings can be viewed from the outside, such as the student housing by Uytenhaak (1999), the Ronald McDonald House by Bosch Haslett (1999) and the temporary student housing in the form of colourful stackable containers (Sky Boxes, 2004).