Description

The former prison on Noordsingel was sold in 2014 by the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf to development consortium Garden of North, consisting of HD Group and BAM Wonen. Garden of North is redeveloping the complex into housing. The first phase, consisting of cell wings and panopticon, has now been sold. The homes in the former Detention House will go on sale at the end of 2018. Finally, it is the turn of the Hofpoort and the Women's Wing. In a few years, the monumental prison complex in Rotterdam's Old North will have changed from a closed environment to an open and green habitat.

The Noordsingel is one of the oldest penitentiary complexes in the Netherlands. It consists of two buildings: the Criminal Prison and the Courthouse. The prison was built according to an American concept; cell wings centrally overlooked from the panopticon. It was built in the period 1866-1872.

The prison housed a total of 340 cells, divided into four wings, each three stories high. Three wings were for men and one for women. The cells were 2.50 metres wide and 4 metres long and equipped with a grate window, running water, central heating and a toilet. Each wing had its own walking area.
At the corners of the square prison yard were robust double guards' houses. There was also an infirmary and each wing had its own chapel. Outside the wall were the management houses.

Next to the prison, construction of a courthouse with Notarial Archives began in 1898. The building was designed by Willem Cornelis Metzelaar, son of the architect of the adjacent prison. The Rotterdam Courthouse is considered Metzelaar's best work. Until 1996, it housed the district court and the subdistrict court. Since 1998, it has had national monument status.

Maximum number of participants: 30.

Speaker(s)

Sander Nelissen - Wessel de Jonge architects

Guided tour
Dennis Huisman - BAM Wonen

Location

Noordsingel 115, Rotterdam

(access via side entrance accessible via Bergstraat)

Organiser

Construction

BAM Wonen and Wessel de Jonge architects

Name and contact details for information

Nienke Ris

nienke@vansteenenstaal.nl