Bossche School inspiration for the redevelopment of Malden’s church

The distinctive post-war reconstruction church in the centre of Malden is undergoing a major transformation 65 years after its completion. Times have changed, and a decline in attendance and income led the parish to sell the church building, designed by architect Jos Bijnen in the characteristic Bossche School style. They wish to create a more compact worship space while preserving the building’s architectural presence.

Commissioned by project developer AdVicus, DP6 designed a plan that creates 31 homes arranged around two new, serene courtyards. The building’s characteristic façades will be retained, the church hall reduced in size, and the chapel, baptismal font and beautiful stained-glass windows preserved. In the central section of the building, the roof will be removed to form an enclosed courtyard garden. Within the existing church walls, nine apartments will be integrated. In the garden of the former presbytery, a second courtyard will be created, featuring a new three-storey apartment building and an underground car park. Behind the stained-glass façade, a new gallery connects the church hall, courtyards and dwellings, forming a coherent new ensemble.

The new architecture draws inspiration from the Bossche School and the existing church elements, such as the slender round steel columns, and integrates naturally within the original façades. Materials from the existing building, including Norwegian flagstone, Belgian rubble stone and Samba wood from the ceilings, are being reused in the new structures. The sober rhythm of the façades and the slender columns lend the courtyards a tranquil character. These shared gardens provide opportunities for interaction among future residents.