Bibliotheek Almere, Netherlands

Façade of the Bibliotheek Almere: Wavelike relief structure in a combination of washed and acidified surface

The young town of Almere was founded on an artificially raised coastal area in 1976. In the meantime, the development over the last 30 years has far surpassed the growth in other European cities. Buildings by the most renowned architects line up in the restructured city centre. Almere’s public library is located in the city centre.

Pre-fabricated in one part: Architectural concrete with acidified and washed surface

The idea for this spectacular building was born in the offices of the architects Meyer en Van Schooten, Amsterdam. The vision was to create a department store for literature and information whose façade is supposed to represent the layers of the earth by a wave-like relief structure. Hering implemented this by using a totally new method. Pre-fabricated parts of architectural concrete with acidified and washed surface were manufactured in one part as a premiere for this architecturally very demanding display of the external façade. The employed charcoal grey concrete made of basalt and labrador gives the building exterior a smart visual effect and underlines its uniqueness.

Precast concrete cladding panels with a thickness of only two centimetres

It needed another innovation to have the so-called fifth view/elevation in the same basic material. Surface-acidified betoShell® GFRC facade panels with a thickness of only two centimetres and made of textile armoured concrete were used as roof panels. The concrete stone, which was specifically developed by Hering, was also executed in a concrete made of basalt and labrador (charcoal grey) and completes the uniform style of this architectural masterpiece.

Project profile

Building method

Download "project description Bibliotheek Almere, Netherlands" (pdf, 1,4 mb)


Overview: Selected projects with architectural concrete from Hering