Historic architecture with a modern twist

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It is not often that listed buildings retain the same function for centuries or decades. Often, repurposing or rebuilding is a better and less expensive option than restoring or renovating. The use and interior thus change with the demands and wishes of the times. The story of a building sometimes takes a surprising turn. Here are a few inspiring examples of such a fresh start for a building.

  • lying tapijn barracks learning spaces jeker quarter maastricht marketing july 2024 glass fence

Tapijnkazerne - Make Love, Not War

For Maastricht, the danger of invaders seemed to have passed from 1867 onwards and the garrison was disbanded. For a long time, it seemed that the Dutch government did not consider military presence in South Limburg important. But that changed in the early 20th century. The Tapijnkazerne was built after World War I as a military training centre, on the edge of the Stadspark, where in 2010 soldiers of the Brunssum (AFCENT) were still walking. If you take a walk through the greenery now, you will not see barbed wire fences or steel fences, but a vibrant green-lined complex. Today, residents and visitors can relax and recreate on the grounds, which are freely accessible and full of student activity. Most of the barracks buildings are part of Universiteit Maastricht and serve as study, or teaching spaces on campus, but there is also an educational Tapestry Garden.

  • Tapijn urban garden

    The Tapijntuin is a cosy and peaceful garden in Maastricht, perfect for a leisurely stroll or to relax in the greenery. More info on Tapijntuin

    Tapijn urban garden

  • Tapijnkazerne

    A place where history meets modern use. The former barracks site is now a lively environment with parks, catering and education. More info on Tapijnkazerne

    Tapijnkazerne

Preserving authentic character

The three main buildings around the former roll call area were the first to be renovated. To preserve the appearance of this more than 100-year-old design, architecture firm LIAG took a creative approach here. Thus, they lowered the central square, surrounding the main building and side buildings of the barracks. To then connect them via a glass plinth. A glass extension at the back gives students and staff a view of the new city park. Both the interior and the window frames reflect the same colour combinations from the original 1916 design.

The other barracks buildings have also been given a new use, in keeping with their past. The former army canteen houses Brasserie Tapijn, an event location for parties and celebrations. Next door is Sicilery, an initiative of Sicilian students serving specialities from their own island. Enjoy arancini, cannoli, or lime lemonade at one of the picnic tables.

  • Tapijnkazerne in Maastricht
  • Tapijnkazerne Maastricht site behind garages

Tip:

A little further on are also the old fortifications, transformed into a beautiful walking area. Via Hertogsingel and Statensingel you walk to the Frontenpark. To finally end up in the Sphinx Quarter via the Hoge and Lage Fronten. A maze of walls, stairs and tunnels gives access to a rare piece of nature on the edge of the city centre. You might even spot a wall lizard!

Sphinx Quarter: - from factory to creative hotspot

Since 1930, the Eiffel Building has dominated Maastricht's skyline. Like a giant white wall, this angular design by G. Knols looms up between medieval church towers. How the building got its name 'Eiffel'? Strangely, no one remembers. Perhaps the steel structures, which form the base of the building, were reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower? Until 2006, sanitary ware was still produced in these factory halls by De Sphinx, where the ceramic kilns burned day and night. The factory workers were called pottemennekes .

After several years of vacancy, the building was thoroughly restored between 2012 and 2018 and repurposed as a hotel and rooftop bar. Architectural firm Braaksma and Roos ensured that the traces of the past are still clearly visible everywhere: the concrete ceilings and walls remained untreated, installations run visibly through the building and the iconic Sphinx logo was put back on the roof.

  • Sphinx Maastricht Eiffel building front
  • Sphinx Quarter Maastricht gedeelde weelde back Sphinx terrace

Tip:

Want to learn more about the history of the Sphinx and its ceramic products? Then walk through the 120-metre-long Sphinxpassage the entrance is between the Eiffel building and the Pathé cinema. A tile tableau with 30,000 tiles tells the story of 170 years of Maastricht's ceramics industry.

  • Sphinxpassage

    A 120-metre-long covered tile passage between the Eiffel Building and Pathé. Almost 30,000 tiles bring Maastricht's Sphinx past to life. More about Sphinxpassage

    Sphinxpassage

Stream from the other side

Sphinx produced its own electricity for its factories, in a power station across the street. This power station, once built for steam engines, was already in serious disrepair when it was designated as the new location for Lumière cinema. Piece by piece, JHK Architects and Verlaan and Bouwstra Architects dismantled the maze of corridors, alleys and machine rooms that had sprung up here over the years. And although in some places entire walls were demolished only to be rebuilt brick by brick, the building still exudes industrial history. The cinema's restaurant is located in the old machine hall. The large pipes that supplied the water for the steam turbines run along the wall, the monumental construction of steel beams and rivets deliberately left rough.

  • Lumiere Maastricht restaurant interior wall details
  • Lumiere restaurant interior tables and chairs

Factoid:

The tunnel that ran from the factory to the power station is infamous, as is Sphinx factory boss Petrus Regout. Indeed, the story circulates that after Van Houten's Kinderwetje, which banned factory work for children under 12, Regout nevertheless allowed young children to work in his factory. Via an underground route, he would smuggle them into the factory unseen and still make them work under miserable conditions. The rumours were never proven to be true.

Monastic churches to be found in multitude

Dominicans, Crusaders, Sisters of the Counts, Friars Minor, Jesuits, Annunciates and the 'rich' Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus: at its peak, no less than twenty-two monasteries could be found in Maastricht city centre. Besides religion, the monastics were engaged in caring for orphans, education and caring for the sick. Some of the monastery buildings were demolished or rebuilt beyond recognition over time. For instance, the church of the Jesuit monastery was converted into the theatre 'Bonbonnière' as early as 1788, with the entire church interior removed. But in recent decades, the various monasteries have been restored with respect for the past while adapting to new users.

  • Oude Minderbroederskerk church church in Maastricht
  • Sint Pieterstraat Jeker Quarter in Maastricht

In Maastricht, you can easily take a tour of all former monasteries in the city centre. Don't miss a few pearls with special architectural elements after their conversion. Such as the Kruisherenhotel with its futuristic copper entrance by Satijnplus Architects, or the Oude Minderbroederskerk church with subdued study halls where a 'crack' was deliberately added to the outer façade by Marc van Roosmalen.

  • Kruisherenhotel Maastricht

From monastery - to bookshop

After the closure of the Dominican convent in 1796, this gothic building just off the Vrijthof Square was in an identity crisis for 200 years. As a municipal warehouse, it was full of sewage pipes, carts and barrels. Then the church was used as a rehearsal hall for musical societies, for exhibitions, as a banquet hall and even as a bicycle shed.

Had the Dominican monks thought 700 years ago that a bookstore would one day be located here? Perhaps they did. In any case, there was always reading. Look up in front of the main entrance. To the left and right of the Gothic window you can see two carved heads: they are reading a book.

  • Dominican Church Maastricht front facade
  • Dominican bookshop downstairs

Tip:

For the best view in the bookshop, walk straight up the stairs to the second floor. You can walk right under the ceiling vaults and paintings. From above, you will also notice that the reading table on the former altar is shaped like a large cross, another subtle reference to the past.

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