01 · Challenge
Art Deco facade with insufficient daylight
A terraced house in a typical 1930s block in Haarlem-Oost has a narrow front section where the ground-floor living room receives less natural light than the owners would like. The street has a coherent Art Deco facade with many facade details and characteristic corner stones. A bay window was a good fit here but had to match the facade composition exactly in terms of proportions and materials, otherwise the aesthetic review committee would have returned the design.
02 · Our approach
Art Deco bay window in brick and steel
We designed a three-sided bay window with vertical articulation connecting to the pilaster structure of the facade. The height of the bay window follows the existing sill height of the windows. The roof finish is detailed in zinc, matching the zinc accents in the street profile. The frames are profiled in steel with a division that respects the Art Deco proportions. We aligned the design criteria in advance with the aesthetic review adviser of the municipality of Haarlem.
03 · Result
Permit in 7 weeks, living room brightened
The design was approved in a single meeting by the aesthetic review committee. The building permit was granted within 7 weeks. The 3 m² bay window adds only modest floor area, but the effect on natural light in the living room is considerable. The owners have fitted out the window sill as a reading bench. The bay window fits so well into the facade that neighbours do not recognise it as new construction.