Mecanoo facts for kids

Mecanoo is a famous architecture firm from Delft, Netherlands. It was started in 1984 by five friends: Francine Houben, Henk Döll, Roelf Steenhuis, Erick van Egeraat, and Chris de Weijer. They design all sorts of buildings and spaces around the world.

How Mecanoo Started

The story of Mecanoo began when Francine Houben, Henk Döll, and Roelf Steenhuis were still students. They were studying at Delft University of Technology. They entered a competition to design new homes for young people in Rotterdam. They won the competition! This project was very important for housing in the Netherlands. It helped change how social housing was planned.

After their win, they teamed up with Erick van Egeraat and Chris de Weijer. Together, they officially started Mecanoo in 1984. The name "Mecanoo" is a mix of three ideas. It comes from "Meccano," a British toy building kit. It also uses "Mécano," the name of an old art magazine. Finally, "Ozoo" was a motto they used for their winning project. This project was built where Rotterdam's old zoo used to be.

Where Mecanoo Works

Mecanoo's main office is in Delft, Netherlands. It's located in a beautiful old canal house. This house was built around 1750. An Italian architect named Bollina designed it. The inside of the building is very grand. It has a long hallway and fancy decorations.

For many years, the canal house was home to important people. Later, it became a place for the elderly and then a hospital. In 1983, Mecanoo rented part of the building. Now, they use the whole historic house for their office. Besides Delft, Mecanoo also has offices in New York City and Kaohsiung. This helps them work on projects all over the world.

Their Design Ideas

Mecanoo is known for designing amazing buildings. They always try to meet what their clients want. They also make sure the people who use the buildings love the spaces. They have a special way of thinking about each project. They call it "People, Place, and Purpose."

• People: This means they think about the client's needs. They also consider what the people using the building will need.
• Place: This involves looking at the area around the building. They think about the local culture and the weather.
• Purpose: This is about what the building will be used for. They also think about how its use might change in the future.

Because of this approach, every Mecanoo building is unique. They combine different skills like architecture, city planning, and interior design. They know that buildings often change over time. So, they design buildings that can adapt to new uses. They also care a lot about sustainable design. This means they try to make buildings that are good for the environment. They want to create special places that are important for people and communities.

What They Build

Since 1984, Mecanoo has worked on many different kinds of projects. In their early years, they mostly designed social housing. These were homes for people in city areas that needed new buildings. Today, they work on large, complex buildings. They also plan whole city areas.

Mecanoo designs many types of buildings. These include homes, schools, and university campuses. They also design theaters, libraries, and tall skyscrapers. They even work on parks, public squares, and hotels. Their team is made up of architects, interior designers, and city planners. They have completed projects in many countries. These include the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, China, and the United States.

Some of their important projects include:

• Delft University of Technology Library in Delft (1997)
• Montevideo skyscraper in Rotterdam (2005)
• La Llotja Theatre and Congress Centre in Lleida, Spain (2008)
• Amsterdam University College in Amsterdam (2012)
• Library of Birmingham in Birmingham, UK (2013)
• HOME Arts Centre in Manchester, UK (2015)
• Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in Boston, USA (2015)
• Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (2015)
• Municipal Offices and Train Station in Delft (2015/2017)
• National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts in Kaohsiung (2018)
• Renovation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C. (ongoing)
• New York Public Library Midtown renovation in New York (ongoing)

Images for kids

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  Delft University of Technology Library

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  Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building

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  Montevideo Residential Tower

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  Library of Birmingham