Transformation of national monument into care complex

Elevation of storey floors for better views

In Kampen, the old HBS building - a national monument - is currently being transformed into a complex with 42 care apartments for the elderly, 15 apartments for young people and two meeting rooms. "We are first looking at the building and its possibilities," says Mr. Kampen.

Development contractor Schavast-Salverda approached De Bruin Architects in 2019 to help think about the project. The building of the old HBS in Kampen had had various uses over the years and was now in need of maintenance and repurposing, but while retaining its monumental character. Architect Pieter Diks of De Bruin Architects: "For example, we were not allowed to saw into the exterior walls. Because living with care is combined here and residents have a communal garden, there was no need for a balcony at every apartment."

The exterior facades thus remain intact and were carefully restored based on laboratory research into the techniques and materials used. The inside of the building is undergoing considerable work. The building was originally equipped with high window sills, so that schoolchildren could not look outside during class. In order for the future residents to be able to enjoy their view, all of the upper floors were raised. Existing doors were cut entirely out of the wall and replaced at the higher floor level. 

"There was no hard defined Program of Requirements beforehand. Together with Schavast and RYSE, we first looked at the building and its possibilities. The old, large classrooms had the perfect dimensions for apartments: the size ranges from 32 to 67 m2 per apartment."

Elderly and young people in one building

On the first three floors of the building will be apartments for the elderly. They live independently as much as possible, but can use a tablet to control the entire apartment and request care. In the attic of the building there will be fifteen mezzanine apartments for young people who can live there under supervision. Diks: "These cozy apartments with loft have a beautiful view over Kampen. This will give us a nice combination of young and old in one building. Future residents will also meet each other in the elevators and common areas."

Revolutionary building

A special project, but actually the building was quite special in itself, the architect believes. "The building dates from 1882 and was revolutionary at the time. For example, it contains ornaments made of cast concrete, which we usually only encounter from the 1920s onward. There was also a progressive heating system in the building for that time. So it was progressive then and it is becoming so again now, by allowing residents to control all components in the home with a tablet. In addition, the property gets an energy label A and has been made gas-free."

In such old properties, contractors quite often encounter surprises. It was no different in this case. A tunnel network dating from the seventeenth century was found to run under the building. This had to be recorded archaeologically before work could be done around it. "This contractor is well-versed in this kind of situation; not everyone can do that. In addition, there is a lot of trust and seasoned cooperation in this team. That is also necessary to achieve success, in a project where different disciplines are so intertwined."

The transformed HBS in Kampen will be completed the first quarter of 2025.