The renovation and restoration of the Roosendaal railway station building has given it a new panache. Instead of solely being directed towards the rail tracks, this station is now directed towards the town and has a positive effect on the public space. A unique feature of Ruland Architecten’s design is the restoration of the original monumental character by reinstating what has been hidden for a long time. Bijzonder aan het ontwerp van Ruland + Partner Architekten bna is dat het de oorspronkelijke monumentaliteit herstelt door weer zichtbaar te maken wat lange tijd verborgen is geweest.

History
The Roosendaal railway station was designed by master builder D.E.C. Knuttel and railway architect G.W. Heukelom and was built between 1905-1907. The asymmetrical stretched out building acted as an important border station for the Dutch railway network and is still part of the extensive rail and shunt network of the city of Roosendaal. In 1944 part of the building, including the original entrance hall, was damaged beyond repair. The new additions, after a design by architect S. van Ravesteyn, were finished in 1949.

Renewed allure
In Ruland Architecten’s design, the original monumental value was reinstated by clarifying and restoring the original structures, layout and architectural details. Changes to the layout, room finishes and installations have been done using current materials and details, as befits the industrial character of the building. This enables new and modern use of a very distinctive railway-related piece of industrial heritage. This instills a renewed allure to both the railway station and the station square in Roosendaal. The character of the station building restores the original monumental value of the square and makes it once more a pleasant place to be in and a valuable entry to the city, a good distinguishing feature for Roosendaal.