On Tuesday June 8th, her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of The Netherlands opened De St@art in Apeldoorn. This exceptionally designed building at the Apenheul is a new icon for sustainability.
The unique CO2 emission free building is designed by the architectural firm RAU, which has been designing sustainable buildings since 1992.De St@art employs sustainable features including a concrete core activation, cold and heat exchange and clay plaster.
De St@art boasts a state-of-the-art auditorium that seats 300 guests and several meeting rooms. The centre offers, possibly in combination with a visit to the Apenheul, room for meetings, symposia and a multiplicity of meetings for organizations and companies. In addition, De St@art also has a meeting function for (nature) clubs, entrepreneurs, students and visitors of Apenheul and the Berg & Bos park, because of the existence of class rooms, an atelier and photo exhibitions.
For the occasion, Princess Máxima unveiled a masterpiece by local Apeldoorn artist Ferry Staverman. The piece unveiled this week is a model of the final work, which will be about five meters high.
De St@art is a joint initiative of Apenheul Foundation, The House of Nature and the municipality of Apeldoorn.
(picture © Stichting De Apenheul)
