NS Stations owns a large number of historic buildings, from railway stations, signal houses and industrial workshops to platform buildings and water towers. Historic, significant buildings like Den Haag Hollands Spoor are over a hundred years old and still function well. NS sees this heritage as a special opportunity to create attractive railway station areas. Not just for the conservation of the buildings but also to update and maintain the unique character of special railway station buildings.
Station Den Haag Hollands Spoor is a National Monument, designed by architect and railway master builder D.A.N. Margandant and was built between 1888 – 1893. The building has a central entrance with a high and extending centre section and low side wings of unequal length and composition. The entire ground floor is intensively used for shop and railway station functions. The side wing on the left of the main station hall contains the Royal Waiting Room. Above the main station hall, office and meeting rooms can be found, access to the mail station hall is via the attic of the righthand wing. The attic rooms are used as storage and technical rooms.
Ruland Architecten’s design is mainly focused on creating clarity and transparence on and between storeys. The internal spaces have been cleared of later additions reinstating original ceiling levels, floor levels and walls. New wooden façades with glass have been installed in the existing staircases and an improvised access to the level above the main station hall has been replaced by a new transparent staircase. The quality of the existing building has been reinstated by restoring monumental structures and details. Existing columns and floor structures have been made visible and restored. Original window details have been restored. The monumental sections of the building have been repainted in their original colours after a historic colour study.
The new realization of the programme and required technology has been distributed over the storeys after the use of the rooms and clearly designed as modern additions. The offices and education rooms have been built on the front of the building because of daylight and image for the users. The relatively dark technical and dressing rooms are located in the attic of the righthand wing. The main meeting room is above the main station hall and allows a superb view of the platforms and tracks. Technical installations and cable ducts have been kept in sight. Suspended ceilings are free hanging, separated from the monumental walls and beams.
The continuous collaboration between client, architect and contractor enabled the quality of the entire project to maintain a constant high level, from main structure down to small details. This also enabled the project to be finished within a very short time span whilst largely maintaining railway station and shop functions. This approach, initiated by the client, has resulted in a modern office space with an appealing monumental appearance, situated in a unique railway station location.
| Location | Den Haag |
| Floor area | 1040 sq m gross floor area |
| Year | 2012 – 2013 |
| Status | Completed |
| Client | NS Stations, Utrecht |
| Architect | Ruland Architects, Amsterdam |
| Constructor | Bouwadviesburo Strackee BV, Amsterdam |
| Installations adviser | DPA Cauberg-Huygen, Amsterdam |
| Contractor | J.P. van Eesteren, Bunnik |
| Electrical installations | Verweij Electrotechniek, Nieuwegein |
| Engineering installations | Technisch Installatie Buro van Dort BV, Utrecht |
| Housing management | CBRE b.v., Amsterdam |
| Interior (furniture. floor) | Rietmeijer Concept + Interior Design, Amsterdam |
| Photography | Jannes Linders, Rotterdam |
| Photography (construction) | Ruland Architects, Amsterdam |
Ruland Architecten
Koningin Wilhelminaplein 13
ruimte 1.11.07
1062 HH Amsterdam
Postbus 80018
1005 BA Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 423 66 89
info@ruland.nl