Urban development and architectural integration “Vomar” location, corner of Abraham van Rooijenstraat and Maarten Kruijtstraat in Noordwijk
From an urban planning point of view, the contours and height of the building plan were determined by the municipality of Noordwijk. The plan clearly defines the streets Abraham van Rooijenstraat and Maarten Kruijtstraat, in line with the existing street profiles. Gasthuissteeg will also have a clear boundary with this building plan.
The main mass has an intermediate scale between two worlds present in the environment. On the one hand, there is the smaller-scale village development of the Hoofdstraat and on the other hand, the large-scale hotel development. The mass of the new building block to be built is 3 storeys high plus a roof storey. It is articulated into a number of volumes, softening the scale of the building block. These volumes are made independent by different colors of masonry and roof finishes. With a play of rhythm between balconies, windows, tires, roof moldings and a green-copper-colored roof, the building blends in well with the seaside resort architecture of the environment. The mass on the Gasthuissteeg is 2 storeys high. It has a green facade with window openings. On the north side of the plan, the existing firebreak will be closed and the buildings will close directly on the adjacent plot.
The plan is mainly sustainable because of the triple land use. The building block has an underground floor, on top of that a storey layer, above that a parking deck for the houses and 42 houses.
Abraham van Rooijenstraat is an important access road. That is why functions such as the entrance to the underground parking garage, the entrance to the parking deck on the 1st floor in front of the houses, and the entrance to the expedition have been made here. The Kruisstraat will become more traffic-calmed. This will be the world of shopping as it is at the Hoofdstraat. This is where the shopping functions will be located, which are accessed via two clear entrances at the corners. These entrances are clearly visible from the Hoofdstraat and from the Grent.
The entrance to the houses is on the north side. This will give the existing loading and unloading yard, where other residential accesses are located, a quality impulse. The gallery facade, which is hardly visible from the public space, is conceived as a veranda world. It's a light world of painted wood.
| Architects | Ronald Knappers |
| Client(s) | Hoorne Vastgoed |
Villa Meijendel takes its name from the nature reserve in which it is located, where a forest meets a valley of dunes. The house is constructed from concrete and set into the side of a sandy slope. The building's design aims to create a dialogue with its surroundings, both through the way the form and materials engage with the landscape, and through the use of glass to provide views out from and into the house.
The boxy geometric structure is entirely clad in charred timber, creating a textured black surface that appears different depending on how sunlight falls on it. The exterior finish, inspired by the ancient Japanese shou sugi ban technique, also helps to preserve the wood. Sometimes the house is almost invisible against the dark edge of the forest, sometimes it sparkles in the sunlight because of the glittering charred wood, as such forming a background for the play of shadows of tree trunks and branches. The villa hides and reveals itself in the landscape.
The property has its entrance on a middle level accommodating an office and two bedrooms. Stairs ascend to an open-plan kitchen and living space, and drop down to a master bedroom and gym room.
The living room features a full-height corner window that looks out through the trees towards the dune valley. A lower window facing to the rear and a large glazed surface lining the adjacent double-height circulation area face out onto the forest. At the far end of the first floor, sliding glass doors lead out from the kitchen onto a terrace.
The material palette –concrete, steel and anodised aluminium– was chosen to complement the tones and textures of the surrounding environment. Each material is applied in a raw, untreated form. Internally, the walls are finished with smooth concrete, while the rough-sawn Douglas fir beams supporting the ceilings feature a distinctive grain.
West 8, Adriaan Geuze, is responsible for the garden design.
Photography is by Christian van der Kooy
In the heart of the Vijfhoek, a picturesque neighborhood in the historic center of Haarlem, stands a large building erected in 1908 by the Waaning company as a factory for Haarlemmer Olie. The building has since been designated a municipal monument. The section facing the Doelstraat originally served a representative function: richly ornamented office spaces were used to receive visitors and convince them of the remarkable qualities of this “miracle oil.” The rear section contained storage and staff quarters, adjoining an inner courtyard with the boiling room, where the sulphur-rich oil was produced a few days each year.
Since the 1980s, the building has been used as a residence. The division between the front and rear sections has been removed, yet the historic atmosphere remains tangible. The new owner asked us to develop a plan to prepare the entire building for a new century—energy-efficient, comfortable, and focused on the enjoyment of living, both along the street and around the inner garden. The boarded-up garage doors have been replaced with generous glazed folding doors. Using flax insulation, the building is insulated from within; new glazing is installed, and the roof is insulated from the outside. Heat pumps and solar panels provide sustainable energy generation. In close consultation with the Heritage Department, all characteristic elements are preserved—allowing the new residents to begin the next chapter in the rich history of this building.
In close collaboration with restoration contractor Burgy, EPOS Advies, and energy consultancy Kroon, a plan of approach was developed. Construction began in February 2024.
The house from the beginning of the 20th century was originally the staff residence of the adjacent main house “Malgre tout”. The main house and staff house are seen as examples of the development of country estates in the municipality. As an ensemble, the buildings and the surrounding gardens are of great cultural-historical value. The ensemble has the status of a national monument. The carefully detailed house is built in red brick under a thatched wolf roof. The staff house originally included a garage, horsestables and a driver's house.
In 2018, a design was made for the restoration and modernization of the service residence including a modern extension. A large living room and kitchen will be realized in the extension. A veranda will be added to the extension. Living room and veranda offer a view of a beautiful Hortensia garden. The extension is completely transparent on the side of the garden. On the other side, the extension is embraced by an openwork masonry wall. The wall becomes more transparent towards the edges. By using a heat pump installation with a source, high-quality insulation, and by completely filling the roof of the extension with solar panels, the service house will soon be completely energy neutral.
VVKH, commissioned by Hoorne Vastgoed, developed the development vision for housing on top of the existing shopping center in the center of Castricum. The inward-looking shopping center, dating from the 1970s, is a single-story development with parking at ground level surrounding it. The shops are supplied from the outside, resulting in many unattractive rear entrances. There is little connection with the residential areas that have grown up around the shopping center. By adding housing to the plan, the development will reconnect with the surrounding area. Some of the housing will be positioned above the shops, and some will have front doors facing the street. These new frontages will enhance public safety, while the logistics will disappear from view. The shopping center will be clearly visible with a new entrance to Soomerwegh, the access road to the village. A new square will be added here, creating a pleasant atmosphere. By designing the entrance areas of the shopping center as new squares, the connection with the surrounding area will be strengthened. Geesterduin's stony surroundings will become greener. The plan will be nature-inclusive, providing space for flora and fauna through the addition of roof gardens, vertical greenery, and green landscaping in the squares. The entire plan will be made sustainable, with the preservation of the existing shopping center as a starting point.
