the atrium

Architecturally Jansstraat 46 can be defined by three main parts. One of the most important parts the new atrium. This atrium brings together many different time periods and dissimilar levels of the existing building. The main reason for this part of the ensemble to hold such an importance, are the three period rooms. These rooms are mainly decorated in Louis XV style. They are relatively well preserved since the ensemble started out as the mansion of Johan van Thilt in 1653. Throughout the years these rooms have functioned as private chambers for the governor and judges of the court and will now function as main living rooms of the new apartments. The atrium itself acts as the main means of connectivity for the whole ensemble. Almost all levels of the building can be reached by a new set of stairs placed in the middle of this space. Thanks to a skin facade facing south, the journey towards the upper levels of the building is enriched by sporadic views of St.-Bavokerk, the biggest church of Haarlem.

main building

One of the most important parts in this ensemble is defined as the "main building", built in the beginning of the 19th century. This part was the main extension of the ensemble when the cantonal court settled in Jansstraat 46. The high ceiling of the ground floor gave the opportunity to enrich the spaces with mezzanines. The most powerful image of this part of the building is located on the top floor where the structure of the gable roof is visible. The original roof consisted of four gable roofs parallel to Jansstraat. During the use of the building as a courthouse, a large part of this roof was transformed into a flat roof while preserving one gable roof on the street side to retain the existing image. With the new function as a residential building the roof is redefined by transforming the flat roof into a gable roof on the side of the garden and a mansard roof between the two gable roofs.

former state archives

The third part of the ensemble is built in the late 19th century and was meant to hold the state archives. The vertical planes of the filing cabinets in this building have a load bearing function. Many of these elements have been preserved during the refurbishment. They are visible in the walls of the apartments that are created. The shelfs that held the physical archives are also reused in different parts of the building, such as in the main stairs of the atrium.