Bart Creugers

Thesis:

Is the monastery of today a refuge for people who can’t cope with the always more rapidly changing society or can the monastery itself no longer cope with this society? The monastery’s philosophy and religious persuasion threaten to be its own coup de grâce. To survive it should give away some of its mystery and beauty.

Location:

The area that can be considered as an entry to the St. Pietersberg (Maastricht NL) is a spot where the combination of nature, silence and view over the city ensures the qualities which are necessary for the city residents to retrieve inner rest without having to leave their city behind.

Here, where you are on a safe distance from the city, the entry route starts; a concrete path leads you in the direction of the city, with a view on the Vrijthof and its church towers. As soon as the view broadens, the visibility on the building itself arises. At the end of this path a slope leads down, each contact with the city expires, you are now in the building/ mountain.

Building;

The building typology runs parallel with those of the "traditional monastery". The users (patient/manager/tourist) will all use it in their own manner; separated from each other, but with sufficient intersections in which way they complete each other, and the building becomes optimal in use. Every space and route has been made for an "experience"; by the use of views, (audio-) visual contact with other spaces, daylight, dimensions, approach, materials, etc..

Surroundings:

The area has been maintained as much as possible. By the existing natural borders (and only one entry) the building lies free in its surroundings and becomes part of this. The underground network is left intact and is a unique part of the building. 

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