The jury of the Haarlem architecture prize Lieven de Key Penning 2022 and a large majority of the public voters agree: the Dome is the renovation project in Haarlem in which the monument has been best given new life. A group of Haarlemmers has been striving for years to house entrepreneurs and students in the old prison. One of the pioneers, Jacqueline van de Sande, is pleasantly surprised with the prize. “It’s a great appreciation for our idea.”
Her surprise that the Dome has been awarded the prize is mainly due to the grandeur of the project, which has had an eventful history. “I always expect the underdog to have a better chance. But both the public and the jury chose us now.” The jury unanimously agreed with twenty percent of the public voters.
Van de Sande founded the Panopticon Foundation in 2016 with Martijn van de Poll, architect André van Stigt, Hans Andrian and former city architect Thijs Asselsbergs. With a University College in combination with a place for entrepreneurs and catering, the intention is to literally and figuratively open up the Dome to the people of Haarlem. The entrepreneurs were the first to move into the building, in February of this year open the cinema and running since October the students of the Haarlem Campus around the balustrades of the cell complex that is still intact.
‘Head and Shoulders’
According to the jury, it is a renovation project that ‘stands head and shoulders’ above the other nine projects nominated for the Lieven de Key Medal. “How a prison, designed to keep convicts in and the public out, has opened up in a completely natural way and been incorporated into the fabric of the city is an unprecedented achievement.”
Text continues after this video report, just before the opening of the Dome, including a tour by architect André van Stigt.
Sneak Preview Dome – NH News / Geja Sikma
Especially the tub that has been made under the central square in the Dome is a ‘brilliant solution for the foundation repair’. The upward pressure counteracts subsidence and at the same time offers space for a cinema annex lecture halls and climate control systems. The jury also finds the way in which the architect André van Stigt managed to control the sound in the echoing building without affecting the monumental value of the building very special.
The windows of the cells have also been carefully enlarged, although this was a concern for many local residents who were afraid that the character of the old prison would be lost too much.
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“I am happy that our idea has now landed in the city. We are working hard on our art and culture projects. We will also start with that early next year.” Van de Sande wants the Dome to become even more prominent in the city. “But at least it’s already open now. Entrepreneurs and students are walking around, everyone can always go in for the cinema and the Sunday markets. And if there is a pop-up restaurant early next year, the entrance will be even more visible .”
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However, the jury is still concerned about the development of the area around the Dome. That is still behind. A problem that Jacqueline of the Panopticon Foundation acknowledges. “The student residences will be ready early next year and then a garage and the hotel at the front will have to be built. The site is not ready yet.”
The fact that the added value of the current users of the building is now being praised so much, she sees as great appreciation for the original plan. “The public now sees how many people work there, how good that is for business,” says Van de Sande. “Haarlem is a good city to live in, but then it is important that there is also employment and room for innovation. That is sometimes underestimated. You should not let everyone get into the car. Now the work is being shifted from Amsterdam to Haarlem again. “
Lieven de Key Medal 2022
Lieven de Key Penning is an award named after the Flemish architect Lieven de Key, who was Haarlem’s first city architect at the end of the 16th and early 17th century. The prize is awarded by the municipality of Haarlem for the eleventh time this year. Out of ten nominated projects that have been completed in the past three years, the selection is based on a different theme. This year, the focus was on the meaning that the renovated building adds to the quality of life in the city, with an eye for sustainability.
Four of the ten nominated projects stood out, according to the jury:
– the Pieter Teylers House, in which the elimination of climate control systems in particular has been elevated to an art form;
– an outdated rental house in Tuinwijk Oost, which has been completely renovated in its original state by private owners. According to the jury, it serves as an example for the entire neighborhood, because they ‘stuck their necks out’;
– and a post-war residential complex on Braillelaan, which was renovated instead of demolished under pressure from residents.