Client: Lommel City Council

Overview

House of Nature, an innovative Landscape Architecture project designed as a gateway into the National Park Bosland in Lommel, Belgium. This unique project tells the story of exceptional natural wonders to be discovered in the National park such as the unique dune habitats, the most important land dunes in all of Flanders.
This innovative architectural Landmark flows into the landscape and forms a symbiosis with its surroundings and the environment. It is made of a complex structure of Corten steel supported by 12 large iron pillars from the inside. The outer shell is also Corten steel, a very sustainable and earthy coloured material built to withstand the test of time. Thousands of welding points, each meticulously made by hand can be seen covering the shell, a testament to the hours of work necessary to complete this Artwork. House of Nature is 50m long, 8m high.
The local wildlife is also integrated into House of Nature by means of their footprints. These were found locally, moulds were taken and cast in bronze and welded onto the shell of the Artwork. The encompassing shape of the structure unfolds into a natural meeting and picknick location where people can pause, reflect and immerse themselves in the environment.

Goals

The Landmark House of Nature was commissioned by the City council of Lommel, one of the councils making up the National park Bosland.
There was previously no clear entry point into the National park from Lommel, the council wanted an imposing gateway that could be seen from afar and would form a sustainable Landmark.
The main goal was to create a single point of entry into the National park Bosland, a gateway which could be used as a focal meeting place to bring visitors together from where they could enter the National park.
The unique design and stature flow into the landscape due to its organic design and embracing appearance despite its enormous size.
The importance of the project as an artwork is to integrate Nature, Landscape Architecture, local wildlife and Art, bringing a much-needed Landmark to the National Park Bosland and leaving a sustainable and innovative Land Art sculpture for the local population and visiting tourists.

Process

This project took 2.5 years from the moment it was commissioned to realisation. Many contractors and subcontractors played a role in bringing this project to life.
Studio Will Beckers is responsible for building House of Nature with the collaboration of CSM steel structures who provided the structural engineering and the 12 large iron pillars as a support mechanism for the structure.
BC design was responsible for the technical drawings and rendering and all the technical drawings for the 13 picknick tables and stools.
Additionally a crane specialist was used to bring in the metal frames one at a time to the location before welding each one into place. A dedicated transport company brought the metal regularly on site.
A scaffolding company was hired to build an enormous tent and internal structure under which the artwork was able to be assembled and welded, free of rain and wind during almost a year.

Additional Information

The project brief was not only to integrate nature, the environment, art and the vistors into the gateway, but also to involve the local population in some way, thereby making them invested in House of Nature. The older population is able to listen to tales of the local heritage by means of scanning a QR code this was realised with the collaboration of Lommel heritage society. The local art academies were approached for drawings of animals found in Bosland. A selection of these were engraved into some of the metal stools at the picknick tables. Finally the footprints of many different animals and birds found in the park were collected by a woodland ranger and cast into bronze by Studio Will Beckers. They were then welded onto the shell of the sculpture.