Leeuwarden | Defense Ministry Buildings | Central Government Real Estate Agency
Number of modules
The Ministry of Defense is growing rapidly. To house personnel at military locations throughout the Netherlands, the Central Government Real Estate Agency issued a nationwide call for proposals seeking a standardized, industrial construction concept for barracks. The project combined speed, scalability, and cost-efficiency with high standards for sustainability, quality, and livability. The system also had to be flexible enough to adapt to site-specific conditions and uncertainties, with 100% emission-free construction as the guiding principle.
Together with the architectural firm cepezed, Janssen de Jong Bouw, Peutz, VIAC, and other partners, we have developed a proposal for a 60-room barracks building at the pilot site at Leeuwarden Air Base.
Location: Leeuwarden
Client: Central Government Real Estate Agency
Architect: cepezed
Contractor: Janssen de Jong
Construction Partnership: IMd Consulting Engineers, Peutz, VIAC Consultants
Status: Study
Sector: military buildings
Total number of rooms: 60
Number of modules: 63
Stored CO2: 400 tons
Cepezed has focused on the overall concept: accessibility, common areas, and a clear building structure. Using Finch Buildings’ modular timber construction system, we have developed single-occupancy studios, larger 8-person rooms, accessible rooms, and bathroom and shower modules.
The starting point was standardization, without compromising design quality. This allows us to offer flexibility in appearance and create variety in the streetscape, without sacrificing buildability. Take the facade, for example: by varying the rhythm, facade openings, and material selection, a differentiated appearance is created. On-site refinement can be achieved with greenery and solar panels on the facade, identity-defining elements, and nesting boxes and bat boxes under the eaves.
Barracks are more than just places to sleep. They must be comfortable, function logically, and contribute to the well-being of their occupants, in line with the Ministry of Defense’s goals. In our design, we therefore focused on clear wayfinding and visibility, pleasant individual and communal living spaces, robust, low-maintenance solutions, and high acoustic quality.
Barracks are more than just places to sleep. They must be comfortable, function logically, and contribute to the well-being of their occupants, in line with the Ministry of Defense’s goals. In our design, we therefore focused on clear wayfinding and visibility, pleasant individual and communal living spaces, robust, low-maintenance solutions, and high acoustic quality.
This study demonstrates that the Finch Buildings system is flexible in design, highly versatile, and easily adaptable to each specific location. From compact prefabricated buildings, such as the one here in Leeuwarden, to larger complexes up to 13 stories tall, the principle remains the same: a clear, scalable building system that can adapt to changing requirements at each location without requiring major structural modifications.
Because most of the building is manufactured in the factory, on-site construction can be completed quickly. This ensures a predictable process and minimal disruption to the surrounding area.
The concept supports the Central Government Real Estate Agency’s “Paris Proof” initiative. By building with wood, we store CO₂ within the building and create opportunities for clean, zero-emission construction using electric-powered equipment.
