Contemporary livestyle in historic set The historic city of Delft is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Vermeer and Delftware blue porcelain. The house, which is situated at the most historic canal in Delft, the Oude Delft, dates back some 300 years, has a total floor area of 320 square meters and a floor-to-ceiling height of four meters. Originally built as a private home, the house was converted into a dental practice but now has been returned to its former use. The client was adamant that the house would have a contemporary atmosphere and his brief to the architect was to provide a space that would enable him 'to celebrate contemporary lifestyle in a spacious historic set'. +++ The L-shaped plan wraps around the garden. Both wings open out onto the garden and accommodate the living space and kitchen/dining areas. Due to planning restriction of a national historic monument no internal walls could be removed. Determined not to be straight-jacked by these restrictions, other spatial upgrading is found. In the solution for opening up sightlines within the interior, framed glazed openings were created throughout the house. The sightlines don't follow the circulation path of inhabitants, but visually connect different spaces and different levels. They allow varying and unexpected views through the building and also views inside-out and outside-in. Analogous to this concept of connecting spaces, each single room is tailored to accommodate different activities, juxtaposing elements of surprise: The motorbike is parked with ease next to artwork. +++ The architectural intervention changes subtly the status of the building. The house is deliberated from the corset of preservation.
Location:
Historic centre of Delft, the Netherlands
Project:
Conversion of a former dental practice back to a private house
Commission:
2000
Completion:
2005
Listed Property:
In its total - inside and outside - the house is listed as National Historic Monument by the "Dutch preservation of historical monuments and sites"
Client:
Private client
Architect:
Christian Müller Architects, Rotterdam
Structure:
Pieters Bouwtechniek, Delft
Artwork:
Marieta Reijerkerk, Rotterdam
Photography:
Ralph Kämena, Den Haag