The Bolwerck on Sint Janstraat on the south side of the historic center of Oudewater is being offered for development by the municipality. The Bolwerck is a special historic and striking location that contains very high spatial and cultural-historical qualities for the city center of Oudewater. The Bolwerck is bordered by the municipal monument the Grote Gracht and the Sint Janstraat. The location is in close proximity to large-scale monuments such as the St. Franciscuskerk and the former public school.
City wall
The volume of the new building, containing 50 rental and owner-occupied apartments and 60 underground parking spaces, is inspired by the historic contours of the ramparts from 1747. The layered structure of the cross-section suggests a city wall. The city wall follows the contour of the fortress along the water of the Grote Gracht. A modern two-storey apartment building with a recessed layer on top of this robust city wall is being built. In this way, the urban design and the architectural elaboration are in line with the history of the place.
Constructive Challenge
The constructive challenge lay in the fact that the houses are situated above the parking garage. In order to avoid many load-bearing beams in the parking basement, it was decided to design the partitions between the apartments as ‘wall beams’. The building wall is therefore not only a ‘wall’ but also a ‘beam’. This construction method provides a parking garage with a flat ceiling without concrete beams.
Construction request
The planning application for the apartment complex was submitted last week. A beautiful design by architect Jillis Kinkel, in which Pelecon is involved as chief engineer. The complex is being built by Van Baaren contractors from Schoonhoven.
Renders: www.grizli.nl