Transformation of real estate
Transformation is about giving a building a new function, in order to create a new and improved version. A building is consequently given a second life and a new future. The idea is to create value for the new residents and for the immediate environment. Allocating a new and different function to a building can have a hugely positive impact.
Transformation starts with a proper assessment of what the residents and the surrounding area need, followed by a suitable response. That requires a clear vision, creativity and courage. After all, transformation is often about seeing possibilities which others have missed, drawing up plans which stray from the beaten track and having the courage to stick to these plans, often going against the tide in an often limited field of play. The majority of the buildings in question are surrounded by other buildings and are part of a neighbourhood with its own character. Transformation also offers opportunities – for example, the opportunity to contribute to society and meet the needs within that society, such as the shortage of homes for certain target groups, and to promote sustainability by not always demolishing everything entirely but by transforming it instead.
DeFlat Kleiburg
The Kleiburg apartment block – also known as ‘DeFlat’ – is an excellent example of successful transformation. Many people thought that demolition was the only option, but we believed that the building had a new future and we transformed it into a DIY apartment block. For a modest price residents could purchase an apartment and then renovate it to their own tastes. This proved to be a huge success which the whole local area benefited from and also received numerous awards, including the EU Mies Award & the Dutch Design Award.
Scheveningen Pier
Something that was once an icon became more and more dilapidated, culminating in a bankruptcy. We believed it had a new future. For the short term, we revitalised the Pier and that resulted in millions of visitors every year. In addition, we are working on a plan for the long term. A plan which we cannot say too much about, except that it has the potential to make the Pier world famous.
Gele Scheikunde
Gele Scheikunde is a unique complex with a rich history. The plans we have developed for it, which are still in the provisional design phase, are brimming with ambition. The ambition is to turn this historic complex into an area that connects the new and the old, an area where the old city centre and the campus of Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) converge, an area where security and vibrancy go hand in hand and where old and new are mutually reinforcing. It will feature uniquely transformed loft homes, sustainable new builds, space for hospitality and a green courtyard garden which will provide some peace and quiet and, at the same time, function as the neighbourhood’s beating heart.