Town Hall Zutphen

Zutphen on the IJssel is a medieval Hanseatic town with the mighty Gothic church of St. Walburg. At the end of the 20th century, the municipal offices were spread all over the town in various listed but antiquated buildings, which were far too cramped and inappropriate for the desired contact with the public. This was a long-term problem, as it did not seem possible to realize the necessary 9000 m2 in the town centre. RAU did not submit a design idea, but pursued the “architecture as conversation” design strategy. This draws all the participants into the creative process, and years of local protest were transformed into constructive co-operation. It was possible to start work on the new building after a 2 year planning period. The new town hall definitely fits in with the medieval town structure, but it is also an extremely modern administrative centre. A building that carries the past respectfully within itself, in order to be able to help to design a “new” future.