After successful completion of the course, students are able to deal creatively with historical buildings, because all design work on protected structures requires specific expertise and appropriate strategies. This course offers students the opportunity to study the manifold requirements that are needed to conserve, restore, renovate and administrate a historic monument.

Roosendaal – A new life for the station

The Dutch town of Roosendaal is located about 60 km south of Rotterdam and has a very interesting, listed railway station, which was built by the specialized railway architect George Willem van Heukelom in 1901-1907. The monumental main building was planned and executed close to the border with Belgium as a large-dimensioned border station with extensive track systems, workshops and warehouses for customs operations. In a way, it was designed as a representative but still very functional calling card of Holland and served until the Second World War. Allied bombers damaged the station in 1944. From 1947 to 1955, the architect Sybold van Ravensteyn filled the resulting gap with a new, yet sensitively fitted building and reorganized the forecourt in terms of urban planning.

Today, as borders and customs only play a subordinate role in the inner-European area, the station and its expansive area are much too large. The main building is only marginally needed for railway operations, other buildings stand empty or are used temporarily. The Dutch Railways, which is keen to preserve its architectural and cultural-historical stations, is looking for new uses. This is the central task we are facing with our Design Studio. Urban planning considerations, the preservation of the existing buildings and clever structural interventions should make this possible.

Excursion: A stay in the Netherlands in calendar week 44 will enable us to work in Roosendaal.  Additional excursions and visits are planned. The excursion fee is about € 450,-  and includes accommodation with breakfast, transfer and entrance fees. Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements and payment.

The course takes place in cooperation with Dipl. Ing. Architect Miguel Loos (Bureau Spoorbouwmeester, Utrecht) and the Dutch Railways.

• Analysis of the history of the station (source research)
• Construction analysis
• Determination of the preservation measures
• Use concept and design

This course is directed at students who have completed the design studio "Denkmalpflege und Entwurf: Strategien der Erhaltung" in the summer semester 2020.

15.10.2020: Introductory meeting, 11:00 - 13:00 in Aufbaulabor

22.10.2020: Preparatory meeting, 09:00 - 13:00

26.10.2020 - 31.10.2020: Excursion to Roosendaal

12.11.2020: Correction meeting, from 11 a.m.

19.11.2020: Final presentation, from 11 a.m.

Working directly on site
Presentation of a design with a model