De Passage (formerly Nieuwe Haagse Passage), designed by Bernard Tschumi Architects, is a new commercial building built around an interior passage that connects to the 19th-century passage at the north end and the busy Grotemarkstraat at the south. The complex contains a 200- room hotel and retail shopping on two levels in a 17,500-square-meter complex. The building’s distinctive blue and white tiles and free-form fenestration mediates between old and new in the historic city.
The project first responds to a singular imperative: to create a new urban passage, comparable to the historic Hague Passage to the north, as well as the great passages throughout Europe. The Passage expands on a great tradition with a variety of spatial configurations. Passageways are not identical: their ceiling heights, colors, openness, and pedestrian traffic all vary. They can be wide or tight. There is no homogenous configuration (in marked contrast with the 20th-century enclosed shopping mall, whose typology is similar, no matter where on the globe you are located).
The blue of the tiles was originally suggested as a way to bring a sense of light and openness into the passage interior. The tiles are light blue—close in color to a blue sky on a sunny day—which, in combination with the white tiles, gives a clean, airy feel to the space, drawing customers in from the bustle of the streets. The use of ceramic tiles is also a nod to Dutch history, suggesting the tin-glazed Delftware tiles that were ubiquitous in 17th- and 18th-century architecture in The Netherlands. The strategy appropriates them in a contemporary way that references the traditional signifi cance of The Hague as the internationally recognized home of Dutch culture.
Description of project by Bernard Tschumi Architects
After more than five years’ incubation, our project for a hotel and shopping center in The Hague evolved with the developer’s economic constraints. As the site became increasingly smaller and the program became less ambitious, the architectural imperative also became more specialized: to create a new urban passage, comparable to the historic Hague Passage to the north, as well as the great passages throughout Europe. We wanted to approach the project as a building that was incontrovertibly Dutch, but also had an international flavor—a combination in keeping with the role of The Hague among other European cities.
The “passage” has a great tradition with a variety of spatial configurations. Passageways are not identical: their ceiling heights, colors, openness, and pedestrian traffic all vary. They can be wide or tight. There is no homogenous configuration (in marked contrast with the 20th-century enclosed shopping mall, whose typology is similar, no matter where on the globe you are located).
The blue of the tiles was originally suggested as a way to bring a sense of light and openness into the passage interior. The tiles are light blue—close in color to a blue sky on a sunny day—which, in combination with the white tiles, will give a clean, airy feel to the space, drawing customers in from the bustle of the streets.
The use of ceramic tiles is also a nod to Dutch history, suggesting the tin-glazed Delftware tiles that were ubiquitous in 17th- and 18th-century architecture in The Netherlands. Our strategy appropriates them in a contemporary way that references the traditional significance of The Hague as the internationally recognized home of Dutch culture. The particular shade of blue used could also be viewed as an oblique reference to the original light-blue flag of Prince William of Orange.
CREDITS. TECHNICAL SHEET.-
Architectural Team.- Bernard Tschumi Architects: Bernard Tschumi, Joel Rutten, Christopher Lee, Dominic Leong, Athanasios Manis, Paul-Arthur Heller, Colin Spoelman, Paula Tomisaki, Mathieu Crabouillet, Angie Co, John Eastridge, Alan Kusov, Nefeli Chatzimina.
Consultants.- Civil Engineer: Corsmit Raadgevend Ingenieursbureau bv (J.J.M. Font Freide). Architect of Record (Design Development): B+M Den Haag bv. Architect of Record (Construction Documents): htv Bouwtechniek (Robert de Goeij). Facade Consultant (Spuistraat Facade Renovation): Rappange & Partners
Construction Administration: Neervoort Bouwmanagement & Consultancy (Harry G.A).
Client.- Multi Vastgoed and AM Real Estate Development in collaboration with T+T Design and the Municipality of The Hague.
Program.- Public passage, commercial shopping center, and 4-star hotel. Commercial shopping center featuring a public passage and 118-room 4-star hotel situated on the site of the former Marks and Spencer in the
center of The Hague.
Site Area.- 3500 m²
Floor Area.- Shops: 17,500 m² (10,500 m²/Hotel: 5,700 m²/Other: 1,300 m²)
Public Passage.- 540 m²
Maximum Building Height.- 29.35 m (hotel parapet); 9.00 m (glass-covered passage).
Cost.- € 28M
Design.- 2005 - 2010
Construction.- July 2011 - September 2014.
Public Opening.- September 18, 2014.
Exterior Facade Material.- Custom-color, frost-resistant glazed ceramic tiles.
