Adaptive reuse of unique historical ensemble into boutique hotel and apartments
Weeshuis Gouda is a unique collection of historical orphanage buildings in the heart of Gouda. These national and municipal monuments together form a highly valuable cultural-historical ensemble. It is situated in the oldest and most attractive part of the city centre, between the greenery and various top monuments of the city, such as the Sint Janskerk. For the transformation from orphanage ensemble to a boutique hotel, restaurant and apartments, Mei architects and planners, commissioned by White House Development, dug deep into the history of Gouda. This transformation has made the special history and colorful stories of Gouda residents visible again.
Project info
Status
Completed in 2021
Opdrachtgevers
White House Development BV
Programma
Boutique hotel (25 rooms) with luxury restaurant, apartments for young people, space for events and meetings, garden
Grootte
5.025 m2 GFA
Connecting cultural heritage
The new program is carefully yet fully linked to the cultural heritage. The layout of the new plan has been naturally integrated into the existing buildings. Authentic elements, such as the wooden beams in the ceiling, have been preserved and kept in sight as much as possible. In this way, the rich history of the orphanage has been made tangible throughout the ensemble. References to the history of Gouda can also be found in the hotel’s interior, designed by interior architect Judith van Mourik.
Boutique hotel WSHS
Boutique hotel Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis (WSHS) has 25 rooms and is organized around the monumental Weeshuishof. The lobby and a luxury restaurant are located on the ground floor. All catering services are operated by an entrepreneurial couple from Gouda, Lennart and Sharon van Gastel, who are also known from De Lichtfabriek in Gouda.
Apartments with loft quality
On the other side of the Patersteeg and in the former gymnasium, apartments for young people have been realized. The apartments are compact, but because of the free height and the possibility to make a mezzanine, they have obtained a real loft quality. The apartments are situated around an attractive courtyard with a communal garden.
