Dutch studio Zecc Architecten has reworked a brick water tower in Utrecht right into a collection of high-rise flats, utilizing its cylindrical form to supply 360-degree views of town.
Situated on the Amsterdamsestraatweg, northwest of Utrecht metropolis heart, the 19th-century water tower is listed as a nationwide monument. After falling into disrepair, it was bought by a non-public shopper in 2012.
Zecc Architecten retrofitted the cylindrical construction, formally referred to as the Amsterdamsestraatweg Water Tower, to comprise 4 dwellings, three of that are flats stacked above a ground-floor café area.
At its prime is a home bigger than 400 sq. meters, framed by the uncovered and broken steel construction of the tower’s former water tank. This house is organized over six ranges and overlooks the Dutch metropolis from a glass-walled terrace.
“The problem for this design was to create good openings for pure gentle, a stupendous outside space with views of the Dome. [Tower] and good entry with a secure elevator and stairwell,” defined Zecc Architecten.
Getting into from the road, a big wood door leads between an elevator and a spiral staircase into the bottom flooring cafe. An extra entry level was created behind the tower and skinny home windows had been inserted to usher in daylight.
An elevator supplies direct entry to the three studio flats, every of which has a compact format with a kitchenette and toilet, coated by a mezzanine sleeping space overlooking an open front room.
The fourth flooring marks the doorway to the bigger residence, with an open corridor set below a convex ceiling created by the rusted steel tank of the outdated water tank.
A second personal raise and wood staircase connects this reception area to the opposite ranges of the home, transferring from a darkish occasion area or cinema on the fifth degree, via bedrooms and kitchens and as much as a vivid dwelling area below the roof cone of the tower.
In the master suite, a cutout was made within the tower to create a sheltered loggia area. Accessed via sliding glass doorways, it’s framed by the retained steel bands of the unique facade window.
“On the ‘journey’ up, the extra personal features had been positioned on the backside, such because the visitor rooms, sitting space and cupboard space,” mentioned Zecc Architecten.
“The area turns into more and more open in direction of the highest, making a spectacular succession of flooring, voids and views,” he continued. “The format was chosen to supply a surprising view of the waking metropolis and the rising solar.”
Contrasting the uncooked, uncovered brick and steel parts of the unique tower construction, the brand new inserts and clear and minimal, with white partitions and skinny black window frames.
Zecc Architecten beforehand renovated one other water tower in De Wieden Nationwide Park, turning it right into a 45-meter-high viewing platform for guests, and extra just lately reworked a former storage in Utrecht right into a steel-clad home Corten.
Images and video are by Stijn Poelstra Fotografie & Video on behalf of Zecc Architecten.