Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
The monumental post office on Utrecht's Neude is almost transformed into 'POST Utrecht'. The building has been given a public function with library, stores, fresh market, restaurants and a bicycle storage. The monumental status of the building guarantees a building with a beautiful historical entrance and surprising original elements.
The old post office with its entrance on the Neude side - consisting of a basement, first floor and three floors - was stripped first. Even the main supporting structure went upside down. With tons of steel, it was made suitable for large, light, transparent spaces. This now houses the library and associated catering facility. A new building section at the rear of the old post office made the connection to the Oude Gracht. This created a dynamic attraction with shopping, food market and library.
The central escalators required the removal of heavy beams.
Burgland Bouw skinned the transformation by a hair and looks back on an exciting period. "The demolition of the old post office was almost exciting," says Teus Verhoef, project manager of Burgland Bouw. "The many small spaces had to make way for one large, transparent space with central escalators. For this, gigantic concrete beams had to be removed and accommodated. Heavy strut structures kept the building upright during this process. Because this required know-how in many areas, there was also frequent consultation and knowledge exchange during this period."
New windows, doors and recesses provided a light, transparent appearance. The imposing hall on the first floor was occupied by the library and associated catering facility. The KPN telephone exchange was already located here, and the basement was set up as bicycle storage and a supermarket. "Throughout the entire process, we looked together with Monumentenzorg (National Trust) at how we could keep the old part recognizable. The exterior facade, for example, remained virtually intact. Removed elements were used elsewhere."
The entrance is a monumental surprise.
To make room for the new building, Burgland Bouw first demolished an old garage cum stairwell; then they went in depth. "There had to be a basement basin that connected to the basement of the old building," Verhoef says. "This digging yielded numerous archaeological finds, such as coins, jars, pots and pans. This makes transformations fascinating. After all the finds were secured, we made the concrete basement basin with the steel structure above it with 16-meter-long hollow-core slabs and steel-plate concrete floors."
Thanks to the new vistas, visitors now have one large view through the entire building from the central hall. Verhoef: "POST Utrecht is an asset to the city center. Many original elements - such as the lead cladding on the dormers - have been restored. The ceramic cladding on the new building corresponds beautifully with the roof tiles. The paving will be updated on all sides. Utrecht has gained a beautiful meeting place."
