The internal renovation of the storeys of the Den Haag Hollands Spoor railway station building is a characteristic excercise for this vision. The building is a National Monument, is valued as cultural heritage and is part of ‘De Collectie’, fifty of the most influential railway stations which represent the different periods from the rich history of Dutch railway stations. The assignment issued to Ruland Architecten was to restore the monumental quality, enable current-day use and reinforce the identity of the station’s location.

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have been installed in the existing staircases and an improvised access to the level above the main station hall has been replaced by a new transparent staircase.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 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.