Design between heaven and earth by Angela Jansen

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Kruisherenhotel Maastricht Design between heaven and earth Kruisherenhotel | Kruisherenrestaurant | Wine bar Rouge & Blanc Kruisherengang 19-23 | NL 6211 NW Maastricht tel. +31 (0)43 329 20 20 WWW.CHATEAUHOTELS.NL

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Dear Judges, With Great pleasure, I offer you our ‘Portfolio’ which gives you an impression of the Kruisherenhotel Maastricht; ‘Design between Heaven and Earth’. I wish you a great pleasure while judging our bid and we are looking forward to your verdict. Kind regards,

Berry Gerretsen General manager

A CONCEPT OF THE HOTEL #1

DESCRIBE THE DESIGN BRIEF INCLUDING CLIENT’S MAIN REQUIREMENTS.

The completion of the restoration of the Kruisheren cloister and the opening of the Kruisherenhotel in 2005 brings an end to a period of 25 years of non-occupancy and neglect of this important and valuable complex, prominently situated in the historic centre of Maastricht. This development not only means the preservation of the 15th century monastery for the future but also gives the building and surroundings an innovative and appropriate new function.

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MAIN REQUIREMENTS

At the end of 2000, the project was presented to hotel investor Camille Oostwegel, owner of Camille Oostwegel ChâteauHotels & -Restaurants (Château St. Gerlach, Château Neercanne and WinselerHof). Mr. Oostwegel set the condition that:

• The cultural history of the cloister and the city of Maastricht had to play a role in the design and decoration. • 60 hotel rooms would be necessary in order to make the complex economically viable as a hotel following restoration. • Next to the hotel rooms there had to be a restaurant for lunch and breakfast, a wine bar and conference rooms. • It had to be a designer hotel, retaining respect for the history of the building. • The new parts had to built freestanding, not attached to the structure of the historic building.

The Kruisheren Monastery built in 1440, has been transformed into an inspiring Design hotel since 2005. A place where the design and the spiritual atmosphere blend together in a beautiful way.

2A DIRECTION OF THE DESIGN #2

SHOW CONCEPT SKETCHES AND ANY EVOLUTION IN THE DESIGN PROCESS, MENTION WHAT MAY HAVE INFLUENCED OR INSPIRED THE DIRECTION OF THE DESIGN. As a result of years, standing unused, unheated, leakages and the lack of necessary maintenance work, the buildings had fallen into such a state of disrepair that the whole body of the building – exterior and interior – needed to be completely renovated.

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The church before renovation started. The pattern on which the cover is inspired is visible.

Courtyard: when the renovation of the complex started the whole courtyard was overgrown with shrubs.

Tiara of the Pope, original ornament damaged when the building was a military complex.

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3 A HISTORY OF THE BUILDING #3

HISTORY

After the foundation of the Order of Crutched Friars (the “Kruisheren”) in 1238 in Huy, Belgium, the decision was taken to establish a new monastery with a church on the “Kommel” site in Maastricht, The Netherlands around 1437.

The year 1440 saw the laying of the first stone in the construction of the chancel of the church, which was completed in 1459. In 1461, paintings were added to the late gothic ceilings. The construction of the east wing of the monastery began in 1483, and the entire complex was finally completed in 1520 with the finalisation of the south wing of the monastery.

During the French occupation, the monastery was closed down and the monks were exiled. From that point on, the complex was used for storage of munitions and later as barracks and a bakery.

By the end of the 19th century, Squire Victor de Stuers, founder of the Dutch cultural heritage movement, began organising its restoration. He housed the National Agricultural Research Station in the Kruisheren cloister with the aphorism:

“There is no better solution to the decay of old buildings than to give them a good purpose.”

In 1900, after radical restoration work, the Kruisheren cloister remained in use as the National Agricultural Research Station until 1981. The complex then began to fall into disrepair once again due to disuse and neglect.

In the middle of the 20th century, the Kruisheren cloister became a protected national monument under Dutch monumental law. In 2003, the municipal government gave the building to the Foundation for Limburg Cultural Heritage in Maastricht (Stichting Monumentaal Erfgoed Limburg) and the hotel chain Camille Oostwegel ChâteauHotels & -Restaurants (based in Valkenburg aan de Geul) In order to create a hotel after restoration. The restoration and conversion of the building was completed in 2005.

View from the elevator overlooking the church where the free-standing mezzanine or floating restaurant is displayed.

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REVERSIBILITY OF THE REFURBISHMENT #3

HIGHLIGHT THE CLIENT APPROVED DESIGN AND GIVE REASONS WHY THIS DESIGN WAS SELECTED. The last troublesome aspect was the wish and requirement for all the new aspects of the hotel to be built in such a way that they could be undone at a later date. This combined with the demands of the new construction rules and regulations made this a very difficult project to prepare, organise and realise. Construction-wise, the new parts had to be free-standing, not touching the structure of the historic building. No weight was to be put on the original construction. However, the material

Impression drawn up by Henk Vos of the mezzanine in the church.

used for the interior walls needed to be substantial enough to separate all rooms adequately. Due to limitations in height, the floors needed to be made of reinforced concrete. Old existing wooden floors serve as permanent formwork. New bearing walls have been built along the binders and trusses over the full height of the cloister wings. The new construction is supported by its own piled foundation. These foundation piles needed to be sunk without causing vibrations. During the work, parts of the original walls were placed on jacks in order to allow subsidence arising from the increased burden to take place at an even rate.

These aspects formed the greatest source of debate with the Municipal Monument committee and the Netherlands Department for Conservation (Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg). Finding solutions for this requires the application of a lot of experience and sound knowledge of matters by all the advisers and partners of the entire construction team.

Artwork and picture of the front desk. The wooden structure is the renovated original church entrance, which is now used as back-office.

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The Casa Nova between the two original buildings. The only building added to the property. The Casa Nova made of Corten steel with a rust appearance when displayed to the elements.

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Overview of the Kruisheren-Complex, on the right the church and the old plane-trees in the middle the monastery and on the left you can see the Casa Nova. Located right in the city centre of Maastricht.

RESTORATION INTERIOR #3 THE WOODEN PARTS OF THE ROOF: TRUSSES, GIRDERS AND WALL PLATES THE WOODEN FLOOR STRUCTURES: BINDERS, BRIDGING JOISTS, PORTALS, CROSS BEAMS, ETC. THE NATURAL STONE FLOORS THE STAIRCASES THE DOOR FRAMES AND DOORS THE MONUMENTAL CARPENTRY THE ANCHORING THE WINDOW SILLS AND DOORSTEPS THE FLOORS, FOUNDATIONS AND THE VAULTS IN THE CELLARS

The restoration of the monumental paintwork (the arches in the sanctuary, the walls and arch in the St. Gertrude chapel and the ceiling and wall decorations in the cloister) is worthy of special mention. This work needed to be tackled in an integrated fashion by expert restorers, and required total consolidation and restoration.

The door handles which were specially designed for the Kruisherenhotel. And the St. Gertrude chapel.

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Picture of the restored monumental paintwork in the church which is also the restaurant ceiling.

DESIGNERS #3

DESIGNERS The interior has been created by the internationally renowned interior designer Henk Vos. Throughout the complex, use has been made of the notable designs of masters such as Le Corbusier and Rietveld as well as modern designers like Marc Newson, Piet Hein Eek, Philippe Starck and Roderick Vos. And the finishing touch to the interior and exterior was given by the German light installation artist, Ingo Maurer.

An impression of the furniture in the church all the furniture is from wellknown designers such as Philippe Starck and Piet Hein Eek.

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ILLUMINATED RED COPPER The new main entrance of the hotel designed by Ingo Maurer. The former side door of the church, is situated on the Kommel square. Passing through the new zinc and copper trumpetshaped channel, guests and visitors are drawn in from the city by the warm and inviting colour of the illuminated red copper.

The copper tunnel, which is the eyecatching entrance to the Kruisherenhotel, in the evening the beautiful red glow is even more magical.

B APPEARANCE & FINISH HOTELROOM #1

INTERIOR

The interior has been created by the internationally renowned interior designer Henk Vos. Every one of the 60 hotel rooms has its own individual contemporary character. The cultural history of the cloister and the city of Maastricht also played a major role in the design of the hotel rooms.

NEW BUILDING

In order to realise the 60 required rooms we used an open space between the monumental buildings to create a new building for the last three luxurious rooms (see page 13). The building stands behind the old cloister wall of the garden and between two historic buildings. The building is made of rust-brown/ orange Corten steel. Its colour, style and texture allow it to blend in perfectly with its monumental surroundings yet adding its own modern character. The building is called the Casa Nova which not only stands for new house but is also the name for a historic person which was know for his, lifestyle.

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The view when you wake up in the morning in room 214, behind the bed you see a blow-up with a historic view over Maastricht.

Various pictures of rooms to give an impression of all 60 individually designed rooms. Where modern design has been combined with historic elements such as beams, a fire place and other historic elements.

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50 Rooms are located in the monastery and 10 rooms are located in the Renaissance House and the Casa Nova, divided in 3 different categories; Deluxe, Prestige and Suites. When the rooms where decorated the history of the city was a theme combined with the original structure and designer furniture.

B 2 THE CHURCH #2

THE CHURCH

The nave of the church contains a mezzanine with a breakfast/lunch/dinner area large enough for 120 people. The unique thing about this mezzanine is the beautiful view through the church windows, the arches and paintings in the top of the church. The former nave of the church also houses reception, the lobby, three lounge corners, a wine bar, a glass conference room and a glass lift, which links the church with the hotel rooms in the cloister wings.

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The aisle on the northern side houses the sanitary rooms, a library and a small boardroom. All the new spaces and facilities are freestanding, not making physical contact with the monument itself, and the changes are all reversible, thus preserving the value of the monument.

LIGHTNING DESIGN

One of the approved designs is the design of the lighting and the light features by the internationally renowned light installation artist Ingo Maurer

from New York/Munich. A number of dish-shaped designs were created for the lighting of the church building. During the day, their role is primarily sculptural and spatial, as they form a strong contrast with the monumental arches and arch murals. In the evening, they radiate light in all imaginable colours through the church, reflecting on the murals.

The lift and the light dishes which seem to float through the air. Inside the lift you can see a bolw-up of the ceiling

The dishes floating through the air, in the evening the color changes which gives a special atmosphere.

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The room with a view right in the centre of the church overlooking all public area’s, the glass wall’s can be frosted to create privacy.

One of the lounge corners in the church.

The chancel houses a special “wine cellar” above ground, bottles of wine lie resting in the beautiful glass wine cellar. This cellar is not only functional; it also forms a decorative wall.

The courtyard, designed by Ingo Maurer, the ‘aquadilerium’ water element refers to the remaining of a well. Here is the biggest contrast between the ancient building and the design.

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B 3 COURTYARD & TERRACE #3

COURTYARD & TERRACE

Ingo Maurer also designed two light installations for the outdoor section of the quadrangle, creating a strikingly contrasting and dynamic effect, day and night, and blending in with the other features of this still hushed cloister. On the terrace we serve the guests with drinks lunch or an appetizer. Despite the fact that you are in the middle of the city centre of Maastricht there is still a monastery atmosphere

RESULT

Antiquity and modern design are interwoven; yet, at the same time, architectural contrasts between the past and present are very clear. All the rooms have there own individual character. The building and the concept combined with helpful staff, result in a unique experience for all guests.

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The courtyard in the evening, the white stones seem to float and the stained glass windows gives a magical feeling.

SUSTAINABLE & ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY #1

USE OF SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY MATERIALS

The complex itself has been re-used which is of course the most sustainable way of opening a Hotel.

Furthermore, the Hotel has a Golden Green Key, which is the highest standard in sustainable Hotel Operation in The Netherlands. The main focus of the Green Key is to reduce the use of water, electricity and other materials but it takes waste water and other pollution in to account as well. This is not only displayed to guests in terms of products which are offered, such as Fair Trade or ‘Eco products’ but also in the mind set of the company and the team.

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The men’s room with the holographic light bulbs designed by Ingo Maurer called ‘Who Bist Du Edison’.

The egg shape office which symbolizes the reborn of the building, with the stained glass shade. The people who work in the office say that they sit on new ideaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

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D OVERVIEW #1

DESIGN BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH,

Litarelly the way it is when you enter through the magic Copper tunnel you will experience the ambience of all this. Serene and breathtaking you will absorb the meters high “Kruisheren” church in which ancient ceiling fresco’s are combined with the abstract design By Henk Vos and Ingo Maurer. This serenity will follow you throughout your stay, In the courtyard, hotel rooms, the winebar or at the entresol based restaurant. All this middle in the citycentre of Maastricht. Design between heaven and earth.

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