Villa Het Oude Slot
A national monument with a future: villa ‘Het oude slot’
National monument from around 1880 – Eclectic villa
Behind an elegant iron gate lies the villa ‘Het oude slot’ (The Old Castle), built around 1880 in Eclectic style and oriented towards the pond on the other side of Slotlaan in Rotterdam. The name refers to the 13th-century Honingen Castle that once stood here. After serving many functions, from site office to student house, the building is now once again in use as a private residence.
When the current owners moved in, the building had been vacant for several years and suffered from considerable moisture and mold damage. In close collaboration with specialized consultants, the monument was restored step by step and prepared for a new future.
Back to the historical structure
Over the course of the twentieth century, the building underwent several major renovations. Based on architectural historical research, the spatial and architectural structure has been restored to its 1906–1936 state. This involved restoring the original layout on the second floor and restoring the historical wall finishes to their former glory.
Characteristic elements such as the timber-framed inglenook fireplace, early twentieth-century tiling, and facade ornaments have been carefully restored and once again form a natural part of the interior and exterior. Further investigation revealed that the original painted ceiling in the living room was still partially intact. This has been restored to its original pattern and color scheme.
Sustainability with respect for the monument
In addition to restoration, sustainability played an important role. From the outset, the search was on for sustainable insulation applications that could be incorporated into the existing wall structure without altering the appearance of the monument or negatively affecting its moisture management. As a result, the thermal envelope of the building was improved with vapor-permeable insulation solutions in the facades, floor, and roof, supplemented with monumental insulation glass. This has significantly increased living comfort while preserving the monumental character.
Circularity was a natural starting point. Where possible, existing materials were given a second life: scrap wood was reused, historic tiling was reinstalled in new bathrooms, and interior components such as built-in cupboards were reused elsewhere in the home.
A monument with a future
We created a new color palette for the interior, in which colors and materials are tailored to the architectural history research and the original design of the villa. This brings history and contemporary use together in a coherent whole.
The restoration of Het Oude Slot shows how careful restoration, sustainability, and reuse can go hand in hand. The result is a national monument that retains its historical value while being prepared for comfortable and future-proof living.
- Project
- Villa Het Oude Slot
- Location
- Rotterdam, Nederland
- Client
- Particuliere opdracht
- BVO
- 665 m2
- Start design
- 2022-2025
- Architect
- Marius Voets, Sebastiaan van Heukelingen
We are happy to tell you more.
- Marius Voets
- Architect director
