Utrecht Mansion

This townhouse, dating from 1898, is part of a listed building block near Wilhelminapark in Utrecht. The impressive residence, designed by the Dutch architect Houtzagers, spans five floors and offers over 450 m² of living space. During the extensive renovation carried out by our studio, no area was left untouched: historic details were carefully restored, new architectural elements were subtly integrated, and the building was comprehensively upgraded for sustainability. The result is a layered interior that is atmospheric, elegant, and future-proof.

The historic building block was developed at the end of the nineteenth century to provide affluent residents with an alternative to the increasingly crowded city centre. The basement levels originally housed the kitchen and staff quarters, while the generous reception and living rooms were positioned on the raised bel étage. Although the houses within the block share a consistent stylistic language, each dwelling and floor plan is unique.

Houtzagers was a contemporary of Berlage, and the design of this townhouse is strongly influenced by the “New Rationalism” of that period. Traditional materials such as brick, natural stone, stained glass, and ceramic ornamentation define the architectural expression. The relatively restrained interior is characterized by high ceilings, imposing fireplaces, and an abundance of painted woodwork, particularly around the monumental staircase.

Our design approach focused on restoring and enhancing the spatial qualities and rationalist characteristics of the house. New interventions reference the building’s history while remaining distinctly contemporary. The twentieth-century conservatory, for example, was replaced with a fully glazed extension that intensifies the relationship between interior and garden. Above the staircase, the original skylight has been reinstated, allowing daylight to once again penetrate deep into the home.

The generous ceiling heights inspired the introduction of a new datum line: a horizontal reference that determines the height of wall finishes, tiles, and all newly inserted spatial elements. This visual line connects old and new and runs consistently through both the historic rooms and the newly designed kitchen and bathrooms.

The interior joinery is conceived as a series of freestanding elements, preserving the restrained, almost castle-like character of the house. The kitchen, originally located in the basement, has been relocated to the bel étage and designed as two distinct objects. The vertical articulation of the cabinetry creates a natural connection between the new interior elements and Houtzagers’ neo-Gothic-inspired architecture.