Baljurk Den Haag, Ball Gown Building The Hague, Netherlands Projects, Dutch Architect
Baljurk Den Haag Architecture
Ball Gown Building, The Hague design by Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers, Holland, Europe
20 Jan 2011
The Baljurk
Date built: 2004
Architect: Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers
‘de Baljurk’ ‘Ballgown façade’
The ‘Baljurk-project” (baljurk = evening-dress, ball gown) is situated in the centre of The Hague, next to the old Passage. The construction of the Passage in 1882 has transformed the urban tissue.
Before this transformation there used to be a meandering transition between the two streets “Kettingstraat” and the “Achterom”, cause by the fact that the “Achterom” used to be a modest stream. This organic flow is unique in the context of The Hague’s rectangular lay-out. By consequence of the construction of the Passage this smooth transition was converted into a straight angle. The Baljurk-project is exactly placed on this corner.
This part of the city (like every historical part of the city) contains heterogeneous collections of different architectural styles and typologies. Quite unique (for a Calvinistic culture like the Dutch one) are the presence of some art nouveau buildings in the environment.
For the last two decades the urban opportunities of this place has not been noticed. The streets and alleys became one of the most desolate parts of the centre of The Hague: blind and armoured windows, graffiti on the historical walls and the smell of a fusion bouquet of weed and urine. In a word; this was “the backside” of the Dutch royal residence.
The plan for the Baljurk is a component of the integrated revitalisation of this neighbourhood. Our plan contains eight historical plots. Behind these facades we designed eight special houses, build on an elevated level. Under this level we planned shopping space.
We restored seven of the eight facades as a souvenir of the urban tissue before 1880, as a homage to the context we designed the new front. From the understanding that cities are changing continuously; we translated the once existing historical art nouveau facades into a contemporary fragment of liquid architecture.
Baljurk Den Haag – Building Information
Purchasers: Geste groep
Architect: Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers
Team: Coen Bouwmeester, Jaap Baselmans, Arjan Mulder, Niels Groeneveld
Project date: 2000
Realization date 2005
Address of the project: Kettingstaat / Achterom, Den Haag
Baljurk Den Haag images / information from Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers
Location: Kettingstraat, Den Haag, The Netherlands
Architecture in Den Haag
Den Haag Architecture Designs – chronological list
Another Den Haag building designed by Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers:
Nautilus sky borne buildings
photo from architects
Penthouses Nautilus Den Haag
Another Dutch building designed by Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers
Steel Study House II, The Netherlands
photograph : Marcel van der Burg
Steel Study House II
Den Haag Buildings
Internationaal Dans en Muziek Centrum
Neuteling Riedijk Architects win
picture © Neutelings Riedijk Architecten
Internationaal Dans en Muziek Centrum Den Haag
Koningin Julianaplein
Design: Office for Metropolitan Architecture
image courtesy of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
Koningin Julianaplein
Moerwijk Housing
Design: Atelier Kempe Thill
image from Atelier Kempe Thill
Moerwijk Housing
Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ypenburg
Design: Claus en Kaan Architecten
photograph : Christian Richters
Netherlands Forensic Institute
Station for the Randstadrail network, Beatrixlaan, The Hague, Netherlands
Design: Zwarts & Jansma Architects
picture : DigiDaan
Randstadrail Station Beatrixlaan : Den Haag
Holland Buildings
photograph : Bas Princen
Dutch architects – UN Studio, fomerly Van Berkel & Bos Architectuurbureau
Dutch architects – Mecanoo
Comments / photos for the Baljurk Den Haag Architecture page welcome
Website: Den Haag