Baljurk Den Haag: Ball Gown Building The Hague

Baljurk Den Haag, Ball Gown Building The Hague, Netherlands Projects, Dutch Architect

Baljurk Den Haag Architecture

Ball Gown Building, The Hague design by Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers, Holland, Europe

20 Jan 2011

The Baljurk

Date built: 2004

Architect: Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers

de Baljurk’ ‘Ballgown façade’

Baljurk Den Haag de Baljurk Den Haag Baljurk Baljurk Den Haag

The ‘Baljurk-project” (baljurk = evening-dress, ball gown) is situated in the centre of The Hague, next to the old Passage. The construction of the Passage in 1882 has transformed the urban tissue.

Before this transformation there used to be a meandering transition between the two streets “Kettingstraat” and the “Achterom”, cause by the fact that the “Achterom” used to be a modest stream. This organic flow is unique in the context of The Hague’s rectangular lay-out. By consequence of the construction of the Passage this smooth transition was converted into a straight angle. The Baljurk-project is exactly placed on this corner.

This part of the city (like every historical part of the city) contains heterogeneous collections of different architectural styles and typologies. Quite unique (for a Calvinistic culture like the Dutch one) are the presence of some art nouveau buildings in the environment.

For the last two decades the urban opportunities of this place has not been noticed. The streets and alleys became one of the most desolate parts of the centre of The Hague: blind and armoured windows, graffiti on the historical walls and the smell of a fusion bouquet of weed and urine. In a word; this was “the backside” of the Dutch royal residence.

The plan for the Baljurk is a component of the integrated revitalisation of this neighbourhood. Our plan contains eight historical plots. Behind these facades we designed eight special houses, build on an elevated level. Under this level we planned shopping space.

Baljurk Den Haag de Baljurk Den Haag Baljurk Baljurk Den Haag

We restored seven of the eight facades as a souvenir of the urban tissue before 1880, as a homage to the context we designed the new front. From the understanding that cities are changing continuously; we translated the once existing historical art nouveau facades into a contemporary fragment of liquid architecture.

Baljurk Den Haag – Building Information

Purchasers: Geste groep
Architect: Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers
Team: Coen Bouwmeester, Jaap Baselmans, Arjan Mulder, Niels Groeneveld
Project date: 2000
Realization date 2005
Address of the project: Kettingstaat / Achterom, Den Haag

Baljurk Den Haag images / information from Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers

Location: Kettingstraat, Den Haag, The Netherlands

Architecture in Den Haag

Den Haag Architecture Designs – chronological list

Another Den Haag building designed by Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers:

Nautilus sky borne buildings
Penthouses Nautilus Den Haag
photo from architects
Penthouses Nautilus Den Haag

Another Dutch building designed by Eric Vreedenburgh – Archipelontwerpers

Steel Study House II, The Netherlands
Steel Study House
photograph : Marcel van der Burg
Steel Study House II

Den Haag Buildings

Internationaal Dans en Muziek Centrum
Neuteling Riedijk Architects win
Internationaal Dans en Muziek Centrum Den Haag
picture © Neutelings Riedijk Architecten
Internationaal Dans en Muziek Centrum Den Haag

Koningin Julianaplein
Design: Office for Metropolitan Architecture
Koningin Julianaplein
image courtesy of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
Koningin Julianaplein

Moerwijk Housing
Design: Atelier Kempe Thill
Moerwijk Housing Den Haag
image from Atelier Kempe Thill
Moerwijk Housing

Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ypenburg
Design: Claus en Kaan Architecten
Netherlands Forensic Institute
photograph : Christian Richters
Netherlands Forensic Institute

Station for the Randstadrail network, Beatrixlaan, The Hague, Netherlands
Design: Zwarts & Jansma Architects
Randstad Rail Station
picture : DigiDaan
Randstadrail Station Beatrixlaan : Den Haag

Dutch Architect

Holland Buildings
Villa 1
photograph : Bas Princen

Dutch architects – UN Studio, fomerly Van Berkel & Bos Architectuurbureau

Dutch architects – Mecanoo

Comments / photos for the Baljurk Den Haag Architecture page welcome

Website: Den Haag