DOMUSDELA, Eindhoven | DOMUSDELA: Unique meeting place breathes past and present

Now that completion is a fact, with DOMUSDELA in the heart of the city, Eindhoven has a unique and contemporary place for meeting, connecting and deepening. Within the complex, which consists of various buildings, a hotel, meeting rooms, a brasserie/restaurant and two multifunctional ceremony rooms have been realized on an area of approximately 9,200 m². Facilities in which atmosphere, experience and openness are emphatically central and the past is brilliantly interwoven with modern architectural highlights.

The project involves the renovation and redevelopment of the Mariënhage area, a unique piece of Eindhoven that includes the Paters Church, the former Augustinianum and Mariënhage monastery. Cooperative DELA took over the area and its buildings from the Order of the Augustinians and the Municipality of Eindhoven. For the city, the preservation of the area is very important. The buildings on the complex not only represent a great cultural-historical and religious value, the area is also part of a larger zone in the center that the Municipality of Eindhoven wishes to provide with new dynamics. To better connect the area to the public space, the Kanaalstraat will be redesigned and the entire zone will have a greener and more multifunctional character. In addition, the construction of a bridge over the river Dommel will make the garden of the complex more accessible to the public from the adjacent residential area.

Date

Under DOMUSDELA, designed by the architectural combination Diederendirrix and architects|and|en|en from Eindhoven, the architectural signature is that of Bouwbedrijf Van de Ven. The Veghel-based company, mainly active in the field of utility construction and serial housing construction, signed on for the phased completion of the project. "While retaining the original atmosphere, we have created a contemporary place here that breathes memories and where a variety of activities and meetings can be organized," says project manager Herman Hooijmans in one of Eindhoven's oldest hidden gems. "In doing so, our extensive knowledge and expertise surrounding the execution of restoration and redevelopment projects obviously came in very handy. Furthermore, we have everything we need to be able to switch quickly with our suppliers and subcontractors even around these types of special projects. We keep the lines of communication short and can for example, thanks to our own machined carpentry factory and forge, we could perfectly anticipate the situation and needs. But the basis on which we won this contract mainly lies in the fact that we could indicate in advance exactly when we would complete this complex and comprehensive project. That fact was of utmost importance to our client. After another company performed the demolition work, we started our work in May of last year. Even then, November 8, 2019, the date when DOMUSDELA was officially opened, was circled in red in our calendar."

Together

A tour of the magnificent complex reveals that the beauty of the original and sometimes centuries-old buildings has been cleverly and tastefully combined with new construction elements. Light, transparency and openness go hand-in-hand. There is the utmost respect for the historical value of the buildings. One moment you come up against an authentic medieval monastery wall, a few steps further you have a magnificent view of the entrance to the hotel from above. Special attention should be paid to the so-called Knoop, the new building erected on the west side of the Paters Church that connects the various buildings. The modern mix of facilities, set against a backdrop of days gone by, is in one word amazing. Hooijmans is therefore justifiably proud of the result that Bouwbedrijf Van de Ven has achieved. "Together with our partners, that is," he emphasizes. "This job suits us and we see the challenge every time. But we can't do it alone. Hence also my sincere thanks towards our suppliers and subcontractors for the great cooperation that contributed to the success of this great project."