Now that all public libraries in Groningen have found a singular home in the Forum, the University of Groningen Law Faculty is moving into the building at Oude Boteringestraat 18. Renovation is required first, however, because the old library is too small.
Translated by Adriana Dancu
The university is working on a plan to build another story on top of the building. The municipality is happy with this, says Alderman Roeland van der Schaaf (PvdA), as long as the RUG works with respect for the environment and the original design.
New floor must follow Grassi’s design
“Topping up in the city center is always complicated, and this is a striking and important building,” explains Van der Schaaf. The former library was designed in the early 1990s by the Italian architect Giorgio Grassi, who at the time already made drawings for an extra floor. There have been consultations between Grassi and the Groningen city architect Jeroen de Willigen about these original plans.
“They should form the basis for the design that the RUG is now having made,” says Van der Schaaf. For the renovation, the university is working with the Spanish architectural firm Cruz y Ortíz, which previously worked on the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
City Council and Friends of the City of Groningen to be involved in “sensitive” building plan
There will only be a definitive green light when the plans have been discussed with the City Council and the architecture association Friends of the City of Groningen, Van der Schaaf announces. “This is so sensitive that we cannot do it overnight,” he says.
Earlier, both the Friends of the City and some councilors reacted indignantly to the building permit for Mercado in the Rode Weeshuisstraat. The apartment complex will be much higher than what was originally stated in the areas zoning plan. But because Mayor and Wethoudersbelieved that Mercado was a good fit with their vision of the city center, they gave permission for its development, without first informing the City Council about it.
“Formally, that was possible, and even obligatory: we must follow the licensing procedure that goes with a building plan,” explains Van der Schaaf. “But informally we can of course involve the Council and the Friends extensively in advance, so we will certainly do that here [in the case of the old library].”
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