Many new developments and adjustments are planned for the coming years on the eastern flank of the center of Breda. Work is currently underway on the creation of POSTBreda, the redesign/greening of the public space and the planning of the Chassékwartier and the former Koepel prison. Breda Botanique and the transformation of De Lange Stallen have now been completed as the first projects. This plan includes 84 new starter homes, divided into sixty two-room homes, 22 studios and two studio homes. The monumental building has been completely reorganized and made more sustainable to energy label A+.
The Lange Stables on Keizerstraat in Breda is a former cavalry stable for 264 horses. The 180 meter long building was completed in 1765 to replace old wooden stables. Originally the building had only one floor with an attic and was equipped with stable doors under round arches. The attic was used as a hay storage room. In the nineteenth century, the building was raised by one floor and equipped as accommodation for soldiers. In the 1980s, some residential space and business premises were built there.
In 2017, housing association WonenBreburg started developing ideas for the repurposing of this monumental complex. A zoning plan change and relocation of (temporary) tenants made the process particularly complex. Ultimately, the realization of RIENKS Architects' plan started in 2022. The starting point for the implementation of the plan was that the history of the building would remain legible on the outside. For this reason, it was decided to respect the mixed facade of various stone types and sizes, different joint structures and facade openings and not to 'brush it away' by making the facade too neat. The construction traces that can be seen in the facade help tell the story of the building. For that reason, no balconies or dormer windows have been added. Outdoor spaces have been created by using loggias and so-called convertible windows from Velux.
The story of the building and its surroundings is also told by the artwork that has been installed in the new underpass. This underpass was installed to connect different parts of the city center of Breda, now and in the future. For the design of the artwork, RIENKS Architects contacted Blind Walls Gallery Breda to make a proposal as to which artist would be suitable for this assignment. Ultimately, the design of the French Monkey Bird was selected. This design has the original function as a horse stable and the horse as a companion of man through the ages as the central theme.
