Contemporary Rebuilding of Historical Roman Fort
14 June 2011
Contemporary Rebuilding of Historical Roman Fort
The daily board of Utrecht, of Mayor and Aldermen, has determined the design for Castellum Hoge Woerd. A special construction makes it possible for the new buildings to be built on the site of the Roman Castellum, without damaging the monument. The project is developed and designed along with the National Service of Cultural Heritage. The costs are approximately 15 million euro. Several parties contributed to the financing.
Harrie Bosch, Alderman of Leidsche Rijn: ‘Castellum Hoge Woerd offers a contemporary program full of culture, nature and archeology in a historical setting: a unique combination in the Netherlands and an enrichment of the cultural offer in Utrecht.’
Design
The design of the Architecture Studio Skets is an interpretation of the old Roman fort that used to be at the Hoge Woerd. The approximately six meters high and broad wall, covered in wood, will be constructed around a rectangular courtyard of about 90 x 100 meters. Visitors can walk on the rampart while looking through the battlements to what is happening outside, just like the Romans soldiers did, 2000 years ago. The four entrances to the Castellum have a massive and heavyset virtuosity with towers of 10 meters high.
The new building for the Castellum is designed in a way that several cultural activities can take place in the ramparts and gate buildings. Also, there will be a place for the animals of the centre of Nature and Environment Communication (NMC). There will be a theatre with 260 seats, an archeology museum and a restaurant in the big pavilion. Here the Roman ship will be exhibited that was excavated with great public interest in De Meern.
Meaning of Castellum Hoge Woerd
In the ancient Roman Empire a Castellum was an army camp with a defensive wall and towers, where 500 to 1000 soldiers stayed, horses included. The special feature of Hog Woerd in relation to other Castella in the Netherlands is that the remains are still there in the landscape. In other parts of the country they are overbuilt.
The definite decision-making on the necessary resources will take place when the Spring policy document is made in June. The development plan is expected to be determined in June by the council. At the 31st of May there was a council information evening on location, where the design was presented to council members and other interested people.
You can find more information about the activities on www.castellumhogewoerd.nl