Wintercircus Technological and Cultural Hub

With its rich history, from horse circus to variety theatre to vintage car garage, the Wintercircus building was renovated by Baro Architectuur and SumProject who restored its essence and original robust structure. In a next stage, OYO transformed the casco structure into a true temple of technology where innovative start-ups and scale-ups bring new energy to the former workshops. By adding new elements that not only respect the existing building but also contrast with it, we created a distinction between the old and the new where citizens and visitors can meet and get inspired.

To shape a shared vision for Wintercircus, a place that connects and inspires, we listen, interpret and tell stories through design. In close collaboration with the operator TENT, Zware Jongens, the city and other ambassadors, we developed a design process rooted in impact and engagement. The biggest challenge was working within the structure to address accessibility, acoustics and technical requirements; demanding great flexibility and close collaboration among designers and contractors. As a team we worked towards a design on a human scale, using warm materials that soften the building’s robust architecture. The nononsense approach focuses on simplicity and functionality, but still aligned with its industrial character. At the same time, there is room for playful and distinctive details that honour the Wintercircus’s history and evoke a sense of wonder. Ultimately, the design aims to extend the life of the building to ensure a sustainable future for the campus.

Projects like Wintercircus represent the opportunity to reveal the different layers of history and reinforce the ‘circular economy’ in the city. Through the process of urban mining, we recovered valuable resources and materials from different urban sources including construction and demolition debris and end-of-life products. For the office desks we used WoodSaver veneer, a circular product derived from residual waste streams. Additionally, almost all furniture have either been made from second-hand or recycled materials, or were scoured locally. This way, the final proposal of the space becomes ‘eclectic’, fusing contemporary and historical elements in a building that embraces its past. Key to this approach was balancing capacity, budget and concept. We translated the vision into a feasible and sustainable reality by prioritising modern functionality and comfort through the use of sustainable techniques and light interventions with honest, low-maintenance materials.