kaap skil, maritime and beachcombers museum by mecanoo

kaap skil, maritime and beachcombers museum by mecanoo image by thijs wolzak

the island of texel is situated in the wadden sea, an intertidal zone that runs along the shared coast of the netherlands, germany, and denmark. each year a million or so tourists visit the island, which is only accessible by plane, boat or ferry. in the 17th and 18th centuries the dutch east india company’s fleet used the anchorage of texel as its departure point for expeditions to the far east. ships waited there for a favorable wind before weighing anchor and setting sail. while they waited, maintenance work and small repairs were carried out, provisions were brought on board, and families were able to see their loved ones one last time.

from within, the glass façade in front of the slats allows an inviting view of the surrounding terrain image by mecanoo

with the design of an entrance building for the maritime and beachcombers museum, kaap skil, mecanoo seeks to take the public back in time to the dutch golden age. the museum is designed with four connected gables that reflect the rhythm of the surrounding roof tops, while internally, the showpiece of the museum is an 18 meter-long, 4 meter-deep model of the reede van texel — displaying in great detail the impressive spectacle of the anchored fleet.

on the first floor the sky floods the space with natural light image by thijs wolzak

for hundreds of years, the people of texel have made use of driftwood from stranded ships to build their houses and barns. the building’s wooden façade continues this tradition of recycling, with vertical wooden boards from the north holland canal used to clad the structure. from within, the glass façade in front of the slats allows an inviting view of the surrounding terrain. the boards cast a linear pattern of daylight and shadow, creating an atmosphere infused with light and shelter. 

movable showcases of robust steel frames and glass create a transparent effect image by thijs wolzak

the entrance and the museum café form a natural frontier between the world of the reede van texel in the basement, and that of the underwater archaeology on the first floor. the contrast between the two environments is reinforced by the different experiences of light and space. in the basement, visitors are drawn around the exhibition by projections and animations, creating an intimate space that harbors a sense of mystery. on the first floor the sky floods the space with natural light. the movable showcases of robust steel frames and glass create a transparent effect so that the objects in the collection appear to float.

objects in the collection appear to float image by thijs wolzak

for hundreds of years, the people of texel have made use of driftwood from stranded ships image by mecanoo

the entrance and the museum café form a natural frontier image by thijs wolzak

in the basement, visitors are drawn around the exhibition by projections and animations image by mecanoo

the showpiece of the museum is an 18 meter-long, 4 meter-deep model of the reede van texel image by thijs wolzak

intimate spaces harbor a sense of mystery image by thijs wolzak

the contrast between the two environments is reinforced by the different experiences of light and space image by thijs wolzak

each year a million or so tourists visit the island, which is only accessible by plane, boat or ferry image by mecanoo

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project info:

program: 1,200 sqm museum building with exhibition galleries, café and offices  design period: 2007-2009 construction period: 2010-2011 client: maritiem & jutters museum, oudeschild architect: mecanoo museum design: kossmann.dejong, amsterdam project management: ABC management groep, assen builders: pieters bouwtechniek, utrecht installations consultant: peter prins, woerden contractors: bouwcombinatie de geus & duin bouwbedrijf, broek op langedijk installations: itbb, heerenveen sawmills for wooden cladding of façades: pieter dros, texel