House Nieuwegracht / Rocha Tombal Architects

Architects: Rocha Tombal Architects - Ana Rocha, Michel Tombal
Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands
Project Team: Igor Lopez de Uralde, Mike Schäfer, Tony Slothouber
Client: Jaap-Jan Boelens en Leontine van Elden
Construction: Pieters Bouwtechniek Delft bv
Contractor: Bouwbedrijf Vrolijk, Amsterdam
Constructed Area: ca 400 sqm
Costs Contractor: 237.000,- euro excl. BTW, excl kitchen and wooden flooring
Project Year: 2012
Photographs: Christian Richters

 

The commission consists in the transformation of a monumental building from the 17th century which until 1948 was used as a community centre from the “Nicolai-church”. The monument was originally built with two parts: the front-house which received later an art-deco façade and, separated by a patio, the back-house and garden.

In the last decades several renovations took place which destroyed the clarity of these spaces. The situation in which we found it, with plenty of small divisions, allowed almost no contact between the front and back parts. The living functions were concentrated on the extreme facades enjoying the natural light, while the areas in between were to dank to be used creating a central barrier. The clients wished to create one united space with good light conditions.

By removing some of the inside walls and enlarging the doors towards the patio, the natural light was finally allowed to penetrate the centre of the house; in this way, and now enjoying the total space, new distribution alternatives were made possible. Finally, in order to connect front and back in visual and physical ways, we proposed to design a continuous organic closet from front to back, where all facility’s inclusive staircases were introduced.