Pocket loft
Groningen
The Bruine Ruiterstraat is located in Eigen Nieuwstad, a side street off the Herestraat in the heart of Groningen. This part of the city centre was formerly known as the red-light district and has, in recent years, taken on a neglected character. The street is dominated by closed rear façades of the Herestraat, creating an isolated atmosphere. For this reason, the municipality of Groningen sees an opportunity to transform the area and give the neighbourhood a new identity. By converting vacant buildings into housing, social control increases and a greater sense of safety is created, making the area more livable.
´´How can we create the highest possible residential quality within a limited space?´´
The former bar consisted primarily of one large space with a high ceiling and windows facing the street. The challenge was to transform this open bar area into an intimate, comfortable apartment of approximately 50 m². The difficulty lay in preserving the sense of openness and spatial quality while introducing functional private spaces. As the building only receives daylight from one side and has high ceilings, there was a risk of creating narrow and dark areas when subdividing the apartment.
The solution was to keep the space as open as possible. A multifunctional cabinet wall was introduced, serving as a wardrobe at the entrance, forming part of the kitchen, and simultaneously capable of enclosing a toilet area. When the sliding doors are open, it reads as a freestanding element, maintaining the spatial openness. On the opposite side of the apartment, the bedroom is positioned and separated by a glass partition. This ensures that daylight can penetrate deep into the apartment, while still allowing the bedroom to be closed off from the living area when needed.
The transformation of the Bruine Ruiterstraat contributes to the municipality’s broader ambition to make the neighbourhood more livable and safe. A neglected building in the heart of Groningen has been turned into a contemporary home that respects its historical context. The project demonstrates how thoughtful interventions and sensitivity to existing qualities can make a small apartment feel spacious and full of light.
Pocket loft
Groningen
The Bruine Ruiterstraat is located in Eigen Nieuwstad, a side street off the Herestraat in the heart of Groningen. This part of the city centre was formerly known as the red-light district and has, in recent years, taken on a neglected character. The street is dominated by closed rear façades of the Herestraat, creating an isolated atmosphere. For this reason, the municipality of Groningen sees an opportunity to transform the area and give the neighbourhood a new identity. By converting vacant buildings into housing, social control increases and a greater sense of safety is created, making the area more livable.
´´How can we create the highest possible residential quality within a limited space?´´
The former bar consisted primarily of one large space with a high ceiling and windows facing the street. The challenge was to transform this open bar area into an intimate, comfortable apartment of approximately 50 m². The difficulty lay in preserving the sense of openness and spatial quality while introducing functional private spaces. As the building only receives daylight from one side and has high ceilings, there was a risk of creating narrow and dark areas when subdividing the apartment.
The solution was to keep the space as open as possible. A multifunctional cabinet wall was introduced, serving as a wardrobe at the entrance, forming part of the kitchen, and simultaneously capable of enclosing a toilet area. When the sliding doors are open, it reads as a freestanding element, maintaining the spatial openness. On the opposite side of the apartment, the bedroom is positioned and separated by a glass partition. This ensures that daylight can penetrate deep into the apartment, while still allowing the bedroom to be closed off from the living area when needed.
The transformation of the Bruine Ruiterstraat contributes to the municipality’s broader ambition to make the neighbourhood more livable and safe. A neglected building in the heart of Groningen has been turned into a contemporary home that respects its historical context. The project demonstrates how thoughtful interventions and sensitivity to existing qualities can make a small apartment feel spacious and full of light.
