Modernisation of an old prison
After 400 years as a prison, the Blokhuispoort in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, has undergone a modernisation and is now operating under a completely different function
Project ID
Blokhuispoort is located in the town of Leeuwarden in northern Holland. It was built in 1499 as a fortress and was subsequently used as a prison between 1580 and 1995.
Today, parts of the building are used by start-up companies that rent offices and workspace areas.
The old prison cells have been renovated into so-called “no-luxury rooms” belonging to Hostlet Bajes, whose name is a Dutch snake term for joint. Guests can sleep in the old cells and even see original pictures on the walls that give insights into the stories of the past.
In addition, the building is also used by restaurants and the city’s public library, which houses several thousand books.
In recent years, our Dutch partner Inatherm BV has supplied 19 units for the project – mainly VEX200 with rotary heat exchangers.
We are the consultants’ go-to company, as we are able to deliver the most compact and best-performing units on the market.
In close cooperation with the calculating consultant (selection, 3D drawings, unit explanations) and the installer, flat-pack and, in some cases, sectional installation is delivered. All units are ordered by EXHAUSTO’s service team.
Difficulty
On parts of the building, the original roof had to be removed for a limited period of time. Only during this period was it possible to place units on the second floor without having to dismantle them. This meant that some units were in the building one year before the duct connection and power could be connected to them.
Inside the former prison | VEX270 installed under the roof |
Fun fact:
Læs mere om VEX200-serienÈn VEX280 was hoisted through the roof in 2018, after which it stood in three parts on pallets and wrapped in plastic from the factory until it was taken into use in 2022.