INTERIOR DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE

@ Sebastian van Damme

Text description provided by the architects.

Porseleinen Hof is situated in the westernmost extension of the Spoorzone area - also known as Nieuw Delft - and is considered one of the cornerstones of the development area. This cornerstone is formed by a height accent—the PorseleinenToren—and a cluster of ground-access houses, collectively forming Porseleinen Hof.

By designing both plots in close coordination with each other, a plan is created in which parking, shared car usage, collective rooftop gardens, and the housing program are optimally aligned, resulting in a pleasant and differentiated living environment in the center of Delft.

"The sculptural appearance of the tower, clad in white glazed ceramic material, ensures that the building appears differently from all sides in the streetscape"

The main anchor of Porseleinen Hof is the PorseleinenToren on Papsouwselaan, which marks the entrance to Nieuw Delft on the western side of the planning area like a beacon. The sculptural appearance of the tower, which, like the family houses, is clad in white - partly glazed and partly matte - ceramic material, ensures that the building appears differently from all sides in the streetscape.

The basis of the plan is formed by a rational structure, with parking and bicycle parking facilities included on the ground floor. The clear structure of both blocks make it possible to articulate the volumes, as sculptural buildings that architecturally express the differentiated programs we are creating on this site. A program that is firmly anchored in its surroundings and connects with the structure of the water and greenery and forms part of the framework of Nieuw Delft. The ambition for the project is beautifully expressed in the masterplan ‘View of Delft’ by Palmbout: “… a differentiated cityscape that respects existing characteristics without simply copying them.”

The entrances to the houses and (studio) apartments in the PorseleinenTorenare situated around the outside of the block, as are the ground-floor spaces that border the car parking areas. A catering facility for the neighborhood and residents will be realized on Papsouwselaan, designed to be inviting. This creates lively plinths along all surrounding streets and the park.

In the heart of the tower is an atrium, around which the studio apartments are situated, where people can meet, and where daylight penetrates deeply into the building. The funnel-shaped space, along with the collective rooftop garden with a Skybar on the fourth floor, expresses the collective living program of the building. In addition to the rooftop garden, many apartments also have their own outdoor space, in the form of a balcony or roof terrace.

The 17 ground-access houses are equipped with spacious rooftop gardens, situated above a shared parking facility. The linear logic of the building block is broken with facade recesses, different window positions, and bay windows. To enhance the plasticity, some houses are equipped with a rooftop extension that participates in the sculptural facade appearance.

The facades of Porseleinen Hof consist of ceramic tiles, placed in a remountable facade system, reducing material usage (no full bricks) and making the facade fully reusable. To limit environmental impact, the non-load-bearing facades are constructed with a timber frame construction. Furthermore, the PorseleinenToren features an innovative EQw installation that extracts heat from the air for heating and cooling. Solar panels are installed on various roof surfaces. Rooftop gardens increase biodiversity and help with rainwater retention, and various nesting facilities are included in the facades. Finally, several shared cars are located in the garage near the family houses for both parts of the plan.