historical warehouse to residentail dwelling "de hoop"

location: Zuiderhaven, Friesland, Harlingen
floorarea: 1500 ft²

The search for balance between historical features and modern design has resulted in a straightforward concept for this elegant warehouse in Harlingen. This listed old warehouse is sitting on the waterfront of the tidal harbor of Harlingen. In the 1990s, it has been converted into a garage annex workshop on the ground floor, offices on the first floor and a one-room apartment on the second floor.

Characteristic features of a warehouse are the very limited free height (2.1 meters floor to beams), the enormous structural beams, the small openings with the exception of the warehouse doors and the large depth of the building. As a result, the property was very gloomy and dark. Above the existing staircase at the center of the building there were already roof lights installed. But due to the first floor being largely boxed up, this daylight did not penetrate the building.

The designed features in the building mainly consisted of opening up the floor to a large degree by removing part of the room dividing walls, making a corridor with glass partition walls and introducing glass balustrades along the existing stairs. In addition, the entire building has been modernized.