How to turn a unique building into the ideal learning environment?
Herta Mohr, Leiden University
In the late 1970s, architect Joop van Stigt designed the distinctive Cluster South for the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University. This example of structuralist architecture has been circularly renovated and expanded by De Zwarte Hond from 12,458 m² to 16,008 m² GFA including a parking garage, into the new Herta Mohr Building. It now offers over 700 spaces for teaching and self-study, two lecture halls, work and meeting rooms, common rooms, and two libraries.
The original building consisted of seven ‘houses’. The central house has been replaced by a new heart of the complex, featuring a generous main entrance. In the new layout, visitors can orient themselves more easily from the central hall. Thanks to the new atrium, the building now brings in ample daylight and feels like a unified whole from the inside. The entire second floor has been renewed, and an eighth house has been added, clad in anodised aluminium.
A remarkable achievement is the reuse of most of the original structure and façade. From the demolished central house, three concrete columns have been reused in the extension. Other materials have also been given a second life—for example, the old redwood ceiling panels were transformed into wall finishes in the atrium. These slats were processed, nail-free and milled in collaboration with the social workplace BWRI. By choosing renovation and sustainability, the Herta Mohr Building has earned a new place in Leiden’s collective memory.
data
- Location
- Leiden, NL
- Size
- 16.008 m²
- Client
- Vastgoedbedrijf Universiteit Leiden
- Discipline
- Architecture
- Program
- Education, Public Buildings
- Period
- 2018-2024
- Status
- Completed
- Photography
- Eva Bloem, Stijn Poelstra, Jan Versnel
- Partners
- Constructif, Nelissen ingenieursbureau, Kuijpers, HARRYVAN, New Horizon, Bwri, Buro Bouwfysica, DGMR, Fokkema & Partners Architecten, Pieters Bouwtechniek Delft
- Awards (1)
-
- Betonprijs
Existing building
- Betonprijs
- themes
Leiden
Leiden University
Circular renovation of Cluster Zuid
In the late 1970s, architect Joop van Stigt designed Cluster South for the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University. The building stands out for its structuralist proportions, which align with the ‘grain of the city’ and are expressed in a precise grid of mushroom-shaped concrete columns.
The building has been circularly renovated and expanded from 12,458 m² to 16,008 m² GFA, including an underground car park. It now accommodates over 700 spaces for teaching and independent study, two lecture halls, work and meeting rooms, common rooms, and houses the libraries of the African Studies Centre and Middle Eastern Studies.
New central heart for transparancy and orientation
Cluster Zuid originally consisted of seven ‘houses’, but orientation in the building was difficult. The two courtyards were very similar and there was little transparency. In addition, the narrow corridors with too many solid walls made the building feel closed in.
To improve this, the central part of the building was demolished and replaced by a new central heart with a spacious main entrance. In the new situation, visitors can find their way around more easily from the central hall, while the interior of the building forms a more coherent whole thanks to the new atrium, which lets in a lot of daylight. In addition, the entire second floor has been renovated and an eighth ‘house’ in anodised aluminium has been added.
1. Roof light with shading
2. Acoustic warp made of wool felt
3. Reclaimed wood from the same building
4. Existing concrete skeleton with mushroom column
5. New roof for installation floor
Original character preserved and enhanced
Changes to the external façades have been kept to a minimum due to the protected townscape. The prefabricated concrete columns with conical heads, sometimes with a round balcony, are striking feature of the façade. During the renovation, these columns were left fully visible over their entire length.
The renovation of Cluster Zuid complements and reinforces the existing design. The building reflects not only the spirit of Joop van Stigt’s time, but also that of the present. By opting for circular renovation and sustainability, Herta Mohr has gained a new place in the collective memory of Leiden.
© Harryvan
© Harryvan
A renovation that prioritises reuse and sustainability
A special achievement was the reuse of most of the original building and the façade. Three concrete columns from the demolished central ‘house’ were reused in the extension. Other materials were also given a new lease of life. For example, the old sequoia redwood ceiling panels have been transformed into wall cladding in the atrium. These slats were carefully processed, nail-free, and milled in collaboration with the social workshop BWRI. The specific pattern of the battens meant that everything could be prefabricated and installed, leaving as little waste as possible.
Integrated approach to sustainability ambitions
Herta Mohr has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent certificate thanks to the use of high-quality materials with low emissions of unhealthy substances throughout the building, as well as the addition of insulation, solar panels and a heat/cold storage system.
New, efficient installations also meet the high sustainability requirements. However, the existing structure could not support these changes, so the second floor was removed and a completely new structure was built on top of the building. This intervention has combined the separate ‘houses’ into one, with the technical installations fully integrated.
Doorsnede
begane grond
