Parish building, rehearsal room for the church choir, library, concert stage for The Golden Earrings, and day-care centre. The prominent De Vereeniging building in De Bilt has lived several lives since 1930. Jasper Smits Architects transformed the elongated building into a pleasant home for two families, respecting its eccentric past. Images by Jeroen Musch.
Location
Delivery
Type
2020
size
Private Housing
De Bilt
494 m2, 2 homes
Both houses are almost identical. A long wall divides the old structure into two symmetrical halves. In the new situation, the characteristic vestibule of the building accommodates working and sleeping. On the ground floor, an office is situated adjacent to the street. A large bedroom with bathroom is located on the ground floor at the rear of the house. A new staircase leads to the first floor, where the children's bedrooms are located.
In order to restore the original layout of the parish house, some recent additions have been removed. For the transformation of the parish into a residential house, the spaces are organized in such a way that there is a long line of sight from the front door to the backyard. Despite their unusual length, the houses can be read at one glance upon entering.
The former hall area behind the vestibule underwent a spectacular metamorphosis. Thanks to a new concrete floor and the original wooden ceiling, the twenty-meter-long, over four-meter-high space retains its hall character. Halfway through this large space, a sunken sitting pit and a mezzanine suspended from the ceiling provide a subdivision of the space. Thanks to this striking 'room divider', four almost square living zones are created that coincide with the original supporting structure and facade layout.
To get more daylight into the living space, the windows in the facade have been raised. this choice is also based on the original blueprints of the parish. Anthracite coloured aluminium frames amplify the industrial character. A skylight brings daylight into the mezzanine. The previously closed rear wall of the stage opens through a large window and French doors towards the backyard. The higher part of the kitchen recalls the former presence of the stage. The garden behind the house functions as ‘new stage’ of the house.
Necessary interventions in the facades have been implemented with respect for the original architecture. The new double front door is based on the original design. The window in the top facade, which had to be split, was given a recessed mullion in brickwork. This contemporary solution blends seamlessly into the plasticity of the original masonry.
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The former hall area behind the vestibule underwent a spectacular metamorphosis. Thanks to a new concrete floor and the original wooden ceiling, the twenty-meter-long, over four-meter-high space retains its hall character.
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