Located directly next to Delft railway station, at the entrance to the former Spoorzone railway redevelopment area, stands House of Delft. In this prominent location, the building forms a gateway to the city. For visitors arriving by train, it offers a first introduction to Delft, where a rich past and an innovative future come together.
House of Delft pays tribute to the pioneers of the past while providing a platform for those of today. Its architecture expresses the identity of Delft, while creating space for the developments shaping the city's future.
Ten facades, ten stories
The design takes its inspiration from the homes, birthplaces and other historic buildings associated with Delft's pioneers. Ten distinctive façades form the starting point for a contemporary architectural composition that translates the scale and recognisable character of the traditional Delft house into a new urban building.
At the head of the complex, three monumental façade profiles rise approximately twenty metres, referencing the Oost-Indisch Huis, the birthplace of Hugo Grotius and the former home of Piet Hein. On the side facing the historic city centre, seven tall glazed studios form a composition of inverted houses, their outlines recalling other significant buildings in Delft.
From the home of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek and Reinier de Graaf's Anatomical Theatre to Vermeer's The Little Street, the Royal Delft pottery factory and the Sint Agatha Convent, each façade tells its own story about Delft's history.
These historical references are not literal reconstructions but have been reinterpreted through a contemporary architectural language. The composition of solid volumes, large glazed studios and recognisable façade silhouettes gives House of Delft a distinctive identity. At the same time, the scale of the individual houses connects the larger building volume to the historic city.
The result is a building that is unmistakably rooted in Delft, without imitating its historic architecture.
A public building for the city
For Koschuch Architects, the significance of architecture lies not only in the quality of the building itself, but also in what it contributes to its surroundings. At such a prominent location next to the railway station, a building calls for a generous and inviting relationship with the city.
The ground floor of House of Delft has therefore been designed as an open, publicly accessible urban interior. The tall glazed studios bring light, visibility and activity to street level, inviting passers-by to step inside.
While the architecture references the pioneers of the past, the public ground floor provides a platform for today's knowledge, creativity and innovation.
The Innovation Gallery serves as a showcase for developments taking place in and around Delft. Research institutions and organisations such as TU Delft, TNO and Deltares can present their research, inventions and innovations to a wider audience. Technologies typically developed behind the closed doors of laboratories and research facilities are given a visible presence in the heart of the city.
The exhibition spaces and auditorium accommodate lectures, exhibitions, events and the exchange of knowledge. Together with workspaces, cafés and other public functions, they create a lively environment where residents, visitors, students, researchers and entrepreneurs can meet.
With the tourist information centre serving as a first point of contact for visitors, the discovery of Delft also begins here. House of Delft thus becomes a living showcase for the city: a place where Delft can share its history, knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit and ambitions with the world.
One story, from urban design to interiors and art
The distinctive quality of House of Delft lies in the consistent development of its design concept across every scale. It begins with the building's urban position as a gateway to the city, takes shape through historical façade references and public studios, and continues into the interiors, material choices, art and programming.
Delft's story is further expressed through the integrated artworks by Studio Job. With their distinctive and unconventional visual language, they offer a contemporary interpretation of the city's history, craftsmanship, scientific heritage and spirit of innovation.
The Blue Gallery is a particular highlight. Delft's ceramic heritage is translated into a monumental artwork comprising approximately 22,000 handmade and hand-painted Delft Blue tiles. The richness of imagery, craftsmanship and sheer scale of the work transform the space into a world of its own, where architecture and art merge.
The result is an interior that inspires wonder and invites visitors to discover, experience and share it. A remarkable public space that sparks the imagination and has the potential to become a new cultural destination for Delft.
Craftsmanship, materiality and dedication to the craft
House of Delft is a distinctive building in which architectural ambition is matched by meticulous attention to materials, detailing and construction.
References to Delft's tradition of craftsmanship and innovation are reflected not only in the building's design, but also in the way it has been made. The careful detailing of the façades, the distinctive public interiors and the integration of art require skilled craftsmanship and close collaboration between designers, artists, makers, advisors and contractors.
Realising this level of quality is only possible with a committed client. House of Delft is the result of a client who shared, from the outset, the conviction that this exceptional location deserved more than a conventional real estate development.
The willingness to invest in architectural quality, high-quality materials, art and a meaningful public programme made it possible to maintain the original ambition throughout the construction process.
The project demonstrates what can be achieved when a shared vision, committed client leadership and a genuine dedication to craftsmanship reinforce one another.
Location: Delft, The Netherlands
Stage: Commission
Function: Residential / Multi
Program: Sales apartments, offices, restaurant and public rspaces
Gross Floor Area: 12,500m2
Date commission: 2015
Date construction: 2019 - 2026
Design Team: R. van Mameren, R. Duarte, G. Bottema, M. Heemrood, C. de Heer, L. Vatteroni, E. Bono, D. Tamiolaki, J. de Koning, N. van Harmelen
Client: Chris Oomen
Public Space Interiors (Inverses): Studio Job
Structural, Building Physics, Building Services and Geotechnical Advisor: ABT
Acoustic Advisor: Peutz
Structural Engineering: Kaskon
Main Contractors: Ter Steege and Dura Vermeer
Interior Contractor: Intos
Tile Supplier: Koninklijke Tichelaar
Window and Curtain Wall Supplier: Metaglas
Façade Contractors: Kooistra Geveltechniek (ceramics) and Verhoeven (timber-frame elements)
