Benthem Crouwel Architects and Snøhetta: winning vision for the House of Culture and Administration

Benthem Crouwel Architects and the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta have been selected by the Eemsdelta municipality to design the new House of Culture and Governance in Delfzijl. This impressive project will provide the city with an iconic cultural meeting place. Now that the design team has been announced, a new phase begins.

Alderman Annalies Usmany-Dallinga says she has found the perfect design partner in these two collaborating architectural firms to realize the new House of Culture and Governance in the Eemsdelta municipality. The path to this selection was carefully navigated.

"We have completed an intensive procurement procedure. We approached this very meticulously. Ultimately, four firms presented their vision to a selection committee representing the municipal council, the board, the theater, the library, and the administrative organization. With Benthem Crouwel Architects and Snøhetta, we have selected a duo of architectural firms who will work with us to design the iconic building we are all looking forward to. They are uniquely capable of harmoniously connecting the building's various functions."

— Annalies Usmany-Dallinga, Alderman of Eemsdelta municipality

For the design, Benthem Crouwel Architects is collaborating with the renowned Norwegian firm Snøhetta. Together, they aim to create a timeless building deeply rooted in Delfzijl's history and maritime context.

"We are designing a building that breathes with the rhythm of Eemsdelta – like the landscape along the coast: layered, flowing, and constantly in motion. Not a collection of separate functions, but a unified whole where library, theater, and municipality seamlessly merge. A place where formal and informal interact, where you can drop in briefly or stay longer. Where spaces change in meaning through the moment, the light, the use. It's a house that doesn't prescribe, but facilitates. Open, inviting, and anchored in the community."

— Saartje van der Made, Architect and Partner at Benthem Crouwel Architects

For 35 years, Snøhetta has been designing some of the world's most remarkable public and cultural projects with their transdisciplinary approach. Their career began in 1989 with the winning submission for the competition for the new Library of Alexandria in Egypt. This was followed by commissions for the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo, the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center in New York, and more recently the Beijing City Library, the renovation of the Musée national de la Marine in Paris, the Čoarvemátta Sami Theater, the Secondary School and Reindeer Herder School in Kautokeino, Norway, and the Far Rockaway Library in New York, among many other projects.

"We see architecture not just as an object, but as a driving force behind human connection and social vitality. Where residents, visitors, and staff come first. It's a special opportunity for us to work with Benthem Crouwel Architects to create a building that breathes the unique vibrancy and spirit of Delfzijl. Undertaking this project together is a victory for architecture itself as well as for Snøhetta and Benthem Crouwel Architects. It demonstrates how design can reflect identity and strengthen connections. Together with the Eemsdelta municipality, we look forward to shaping the House of Culture and Governance."

— Kathleen Cayetano, Senior Architect and Project Leader at Snøhetta

A multidisciplinary team has been assembled for the construction of the House of Culture and Governance. In addition to the two architectural firms, the Eemsdelta municipality is joining forces with DGMR and Huisman & van Muijen. They will work as equals as advisors in the fields of building physics, fire safety, and installation design. In the early design phase, DGMR as building physics advisor will take the lead in designing a building with the lowest possible energy demand. Subsequently, Huisman & Van Muijen will take over, developing an efficient installation concept that complements the building's physical design.

Buro Happold is an international, integrated consultancy of engineers, designers, and advisors and works closely with the architectural team on the building's construction.

The theater experience for future visitors and artists must be unforgettable. Therefore, the Eemsdelta municipality is being advised in this area by PBTA Theater & Acoustics Advisors. This broad design team ensures that the House of Culture and Governance will be not only aesthetically pleasing, functional, and sustainable, but also technically advanced. To ensure the design stays within financial parameters, Vitruvius construction cost advisors will monitor the construction costs throughout the design process.

Client: Eemsdelta Municipality

Architect: Benthem Crouwel Architects, Snøhetta

Partners: Buro Happold, DGMR, Huisman & van Muijen, PBTA Theater & Akoestiekadviseurs, Vitruvius bouwkostenadviseurs