Minimal adjustments for appropriate repurposing

The restoration of the Poortgebouw of the ENKA factory had a lot to do. The building is an icon for Ede and in the region. It was important to give the building back its original grandeur, as well as give it a suitable reuse. A condition was that the work had to be as subtle as possible, so as not to affect the monumental Poortgebouw. Architectural firm Hurenkamp accepted the challenge and began work on the restoration plan. 

Architectenbureau Hurenkamp knows well where its expertise lies, namely in the restoration and repurposing of monumental buildings. Henk van Harsselaar, advisor in the field of restoration and monuments, talks with architect Bart Geurts about the restoration and redevelopment of the Poortgebouw of the ENKA factory in Ede. Geurts explains, "Projects like this are enormously valuable. On the one hand you restore the old glory and at the same time you add a whole new layer of time. That makes my heart beat faster." And it shows! The gentlemen talk enthusiastically about their contribution to this special project.

An icon in the environment

The site of ENKA is well known in Ede, but also in the rest of the Netherlands. In 1922 the Nederlandse Kunstzijdefabriek opened its doors and gained a big place in the lives of many people. At its peak, it employed 5,000 workers and was the largest factory in the Netherlands. Van Harsselaar explains: "I myself am a former Eden resident and I still remember the impact when the factory closed in 2002." ENKA turned the small village of Ede into something big. "The factory left a big mark on the area and for this reason it really is an icon. In addition, the Gatehouse is a distinctive landmark from the railroad line. That also made it so special and important to restore it to its former glory." 

According to Geurts, that is precisely where the challenge lies: "Where the Poortgebouw used to be part of the factory, it is now getting a residential use for 32 apartments. We wanted to continue to experience the characteristic atmosphere of the factory. We did this by, for example, leaving the original truss structure visible in the apartments and the new roof terrace. The Poortgebouw used to house the management and office staff. This can be seen in the marble-clad central hall, the vaults where the paychecks were filled and the mosaic tile floors. Those are elements you want to preserve."

Monumental heritage

The old tile tableau "ENKA" above the gate, the flagpoles and almost all the facade openings were reconstructed. The lanterns on either side of the gate were also reinstalled. "In the 1980s, almost all the original facade openings were replaced with plastic window frames. We removed these again during the restoration. By reconstructing the original wooden windows with associated detailing and returning them to their original red color scheme, the building has regained its characteristic facade appearance." 

Matching puzzle pieces

As an architect, Geurts found it quite a puzzle: "The gatehouse is a fairly dense building. With the shed roofs, we were able to create much more daylight. But also the false facades at the level of the shed roofs, whose window openings are now usable, now come into their own better. With the restoration of the Gatehouse, much has been restored to its former glory and sometimes even improved."

The monument committee was very complimentary of the initiative and the plan drawn up. The restoration and repurposing of the Poortgebouw was carried out by Bouwbedrijf Kreeft of Ede. This is special because Kreeft was also involved in the construction in 1922. 100 years later, she also did the restoration and repurposing.  

Construction Info

Client
Construction company Kreeft / BOEi

Architect
Hurenkamp Architects & Advisors

Constructor
Vianen Construction Consulting

Contractor
Construction company Kreeft

Installations
Installation company Van de Vendel

Construction period
mid-2022 - present