Imposing ensemble of roofs in historical colors

Research and interpretation

The imposing platform and track canopies of The Hague Hollands Spoor station have been restored to their historical colors. Commissioned by ProRail, Ruland Architecten, together with 4Infra, supervised and elaborated the historical color research conducted by Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg.

Several test areas have been set up and assessed together with the stake holders and the permit issuer. By restoring the historical colors, part of the Spatial Quality Framework is fulfilled and the palette of architect Margadant restored.

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The canopies of The Hague Hollands Spoor station have a layered history. For instance, construction of an embankment for the central platform began in 1888, making it the first station in the Netherlands with raised tracks. Consequently, the canopies above the embankment – between and next to the platform buildings – are the oldest parts. Once this was completed, the train could run over the new embankment and passengers could wait comfortably in the waiting rooms within the platform buildings. The old main building was demolished and the current main building constructed.

This was followed by construction of the canopy attached to the main building above the first platform and the carriage canopy next to the square, in which parts of canopy of the old train station were reused. In 1907, the first platform was extended with a smaller canopy on the Delft side, and the entire ensemble – as research revealed – was repainted. In 1976, the station was expanded with a third platform, featuring a canopy by Van der Gaast.

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In the intervening periods, the canopy ensemble was expanded, hit (once by a train and once by a stolen crane), partially demolished, partially burned down, and, of course, frequently painted. In the 1990s, a thorough renovation of the track canopies took place, restoring them for a long time to come. Regrettably, many historical layers of paint disappeared during this renovation. Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg managed, fortunately, with great patience and expertise, to recover a few traces.

Another point of luck was the exclusion of the small canopy on platform 1 in the renovations. A long history of colors emerged on the columns of this canopy. The discovered colors have been plotted on a timeline. The oldest color on the steel sections above the central platform from 1888 is a brown shade, while the oldest layer of paint on the canopy from 1907 is a green shade. Because the entire ensemble was completed in 1907 and painted green as a whole at that time, Ruland Architecten chose to restore this shade of green.

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Under the electron microscope, it became apparent that the paint flakes originally had a darker shade of green than had been visually observed. The shades of green corresponding to this spectrum were set up in test areas, which were assessed in collaboration with NS, the Bureau Spoorbouwmeester, and the Monuments and Urban Planning Committee of the Municipality of The Hague. In addition to the color green, a brown shade was also chosen for the roof boarding.

This originally consisted of bare pine or pine finished with a transparent varnish layer. Because stripping all the wooden parts was too great a task, and it was also unclear whether parts had already been replaced with a different type of wood, a wood tone was chosen. Broken glass parts have also been replaced. The yellow cathedral glass is once again in harmony with the colors of the canopies.

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The completion of the painting of the canopy complex at The Hague HS was celebrated with an extensive report by ProRail and media coverage by Omroep West. By painting the canopies in the historical palette of architect D.A.N. Margadant, parts of the Spatial Quality Framework has been fulfilled.

The monumental and architectural values ​​of the station complex have been enhanced. Materials and colors are once again in harmony. The main building, the platform buildings, and the various roofs of the roof complex form a unified whole once more.

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LocationRailway Station The Hague Hollands Spoor
ClientProRail
Floor areaca. 10.000 m2 gross floor area
Year2023-2026
StatusFinished
ArchitectRuland Architecten, Amsterdam
Historical color researchStichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg
Engineering firm4Infra
ContractorHermans SSB
ImagesShane van Hattum, Duckdev.
Ruland Architecten
© Ruland Architecten 2024