In the municipality of Valkenburg in the heart of South Limburg, you’ll find experience centre Par’Course. Here, various buildings form a multifunctional environment which consists of a gastronomy centre housed in a monumental old brewery, a cycling and sports centre along with the Shimano Experience Centre, and the Black Label Hotel. MoederscheimMoonen, commissioned by project developer Wyckerveste, was responsible for the urban design and the design of the buildings. 

An area with a history
The grounds of the old Leeuw brewery have a rich history going back to 1820. The water mill, now a national monument, was initially located at the Geul River to serve a factory which produced gunpowder. Years later, in 1875, the mill was used for paper, and in 1886 the grounds were used as a brewery. In 2005 the brewery left this location, taking the large silos with them a bit later. With the buildings’ various scars, the grounds remained neglected and decaying. 

The urban design concept
The area has been revived under the name Par’Course and rests on two pillars: gastronomy and cycling. Two worlds that are directly connected with cycling capital Valkenburg and Burgundian Limburg. MoederscheimMoonen created an urban design concept in which Par’Course becomes a part of Valkenburg, including streets and squares full of character.

The brewery as landmark
An important place in the concept of Par’Course has been reserved for the brewery. The building which will house future restaurant and food concepts is the origin of the former factory grounds.

Between the brewery and the brick halls, the building has been expanded with a modern volume positioned on the concrete column heads of the removed silos. The expansion has focused a large window on the wandering Geul River and, together with the vertical distinctive feature, forms an area landmark. The façade of this new volume is covered with rectangular sheets of russet-coloured anodized expanded aluminium. Here and there, focused cuts in the façade have been introduced to make the building suitable for hospitality and catering purposes.

The Shimano Experience Centre
The Par’Course building which is situated most centrally is the Shimano Experience Centre. The building also houses a bicycle clothing shop, yoga studio, gym, and conference room. The conference room is used for business and cycling events. The building is the most modern one in the area and, in terms of materialisation, communicates with the expansion of the brewery. The façade is made of anodised expanded aluminium. The varied sheet measurements give the façade the necessary differentiation and, in some places, the orientation of the expanded aluminium alternates.

The Black Label Hotel
At the eastern-most part of Par’Course you’ll find the Black Label Hotel. The building’s main shape is wandering and, in that way, plays a large role in the urban design concept. The building follows the curve of the Geul River and, with its perpendicular angle, creates two squares: the main square and the hotel’s entrance square. The building has therefore been given a traditional main shape with a roof design.