Publicizing Vacant Heritage

Combining public accessible use with elderly housing in the Koudenhorn in Haarlem to stimulate social interaction

Master thesis (2022)

Authors

T.A.P. de Gouw Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

W.L.E.C. Meijers Heritage & Design - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
F.W.A. Koopman Heritage & Technology - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
H. Zijlstra Heritage & Design - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
M. Spaans Urban Development Management - Architecture and the Built Environment (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2022 Tjeu de Gouw
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Published Date

28-06-2022

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

The need for housing is still a relevant problem in the Netherlands, part of this problem is assigned to elderly while they often stay in their current housing situation for a long time and only move when they are in need for housing with additional health care. However, the actual problem, which is also visible in the city of Haarlem is that there is a lack of suitable elderly housing and often the elderly housing that is available is experienced as not attractive enough to move to before people are indeed in need for housing with additional care facilities.

In the upcoming years, around 700.000 square meters of police real estate will be divested and 30% of the real estate of the police is in need for redevelopment. Atelier Politiebouwmeester provided us with the assignment to look into the possibilities of several of their buildings for in the future.

One of this buildings is the Koudenhorn in Haarlem, a large building covering an entire urban block in the inner city of Haarlem. The disconnection of this building with the surrounding public space caught the attention and raised questions on how this building would function if it would have a public use.
This combined led to the following research- and design question: How could the Koudenhorn building in Haarlem be transformed into elderly housing that includes public accessible functions to stimulate social interaction both amongst the inhabitants of the building and with the neighborhood?

A research into the topic of public interiors, public space and porosity resulted in eight architectural focus points that influence the public character of interior or enclosed spaces. Analyzing the focus points in a case study research resulted in strategies for each focus point that can be tested and implemented during the design process.

Within the re-design of the Koudenhorn, the courtyard of the building is added to the pedestrian network of the city. Collective spaces such as a dining hall, music studio and library and public accessible functions such as a sport facility and makerspace are added to the various typologies of elderly housing to create a attractive living environment for elderly within a building that contributes to its surroundings.