Bakenessergracht, Haarlem

A BEACON ON 14TH-CENTURY FOUNDATIONS

Inspection of the structure revealed that this house was built on foundations from the late 14th century. The arches are the silent witnesses to this ‘beacon’, after which the canal has been named. Over the ages, the house turned out to have undergone extensive remodelling. In the late 1960s the upstairs and attic were entirely demolished and replaced. We restored all the old features: the arches (once used as a rubbish dump), the heavy wooden joisting and the original load-bearing capacity of the roofing. The organically shaped shower, the sky light and replacement of the inner frame make for maximum interior comfort. This wonderful home features a lovely view of the Spaarne, a lovely place to relax after a day of hard work.

 

Brief description: renovation of a house
Address: Bakenessergracht, Haarlem
Principal: private
Contractor: Bouwbedrijf Jan de Wit B.V.
Year: 2007-2009
Photography: Architectenbureau Vroom