Bemuurde Weerd O.Z. 56

The former Old Catholic Church of St James has been transformed with great care and great craftsmanship into a truly unique residential property. A Masterpiece, as we call it at Christie's International Real Estate.

Rich in tradition and with approx. 480 m² of living space rich in space, located on the edge of the historic city centre of Utrecht, not for nothing internationally also called 'Little Amsterdam'. To be precise, this church is situated where the Weerdsluis forms the transition from Utrecht's canals and canals to the river Vecht towards the lake area. Especially during the summer months, a delightful sight every day, diagonally in front of the door.

This is where living becomes residing! The property is also extremely suitable for a combination of living and working.

With a property like this, it's like the best wines: they have to mature to come to taste. And that flavour is in there, right down to the smallest detail.

Feel free to take the time to look at the facade. The relatively subdued facade, which prominently features stained-glass windows and gable stones bearing the name of the former church, is crowned at the hood by a cross.

While the facade tells a lot, it is far from telling everything. Anyone who now steps into the property through the front door of size will get the surprise of a lifetime.

THE ARCHITECT TO THE WORD
ZECC Architects was responsible for this contemporary transformation. The firm itself describes the project as follows:

The Old Catholic Church of St James has been transformed into a spacious residence with international allure. Services have not been held in the church since 1991, and in the period up to 2007 the church was used as a showroom for antique furniture. The church was also rented out as a meeting room and additionally used for small concerts.

A large mezzanine floor was created for these functions in the 1990s, which broke up the spaciousness of the church. The presence of this mezzanine floor was an important starting point for the current design at the outset.

The mezzanine floor was radically modified to enhance, restore and emphasise the spatial qualities of the church. With the removal of portions of the mezzanine floor, interesting sight lines have been created and light can better penetrate the ground floor. The traffic space meanders right through the volume, connecting the open front with the rear part of the church where the altar used to be.

Sometimes the experience of the monumental church is dominant and at other times the new 'look' of the residential church dominates. Furthermore, the exterior of the church has been left completely intact and daylight enters through the original stained-glass windows.

Where there is currently a fantastic home with cosy seating, a kitchen with a spacious dining area where cooking, drinking and dining go well together and beautiful sleeping areas are combined with luxurious sanitary facilities, it is also conceivable that the church will be made suitable for public purposes.

A combination of living and working, exhibiting and/or being creative is also one of the options.

As little as possible of the existing church has been 'touched' or modified. The existing wooden floor, the stained-glass windows and the old doors have been retained and locally restored. The new white volume has been 'kept loose' from the church walls, columns and vaults. The sleek plastered volume is constructed of steel, wood and sheet material. Glass surfaces in the volume reflect historical elements, creating a fusion of old and new.

THE MASTER
This description of the architect naturally focuses on what has been created internally by the architectural firm. However, as the market leader in the top end of the housing market, we know the needs of our target group well. Sufficient outdoor space and parking facilities, our clients see as an important commodity.

At the rear of the building, from the dining area of the living kitchen, you reach a large sunny city garden. The high walls surrounding the garden, together with the mature trees present, create a park-like setting.

On the street side, an authentic cast-iron gate closes off the outdoor space in front of the building. Here you can easily park three cars on private property.

We are pleased to give you an impression of the atmosphere by means of the video and photo report.
But we would rather invite you for a viewing without any obligation. Because just like a Signature Dish by a Michelin-starred chef, you must experience, taste and experience this property in order to experience its unique qualities, atmosphere and character.
The sale of this Masterpiece is taking place collegially between Christie's International Real Estate and Grifhorst Makelaardij Exclusief.

ETERNAL BEAUTY
Eternal beauty, a compliment that certainly applies to this magnificent property.

History has shown that this church has provided space for living combined with a wide variety of activities to many generations.

Even today, this monumental Masterpiece offers many opportunities for diverse uses. All it asks of its new users is respect and reverence for a history that began around 1870 and does not end in 2025.

DISCLAIMER
All information including but not limited to dimensions is expressly of an indicative nature; no rights can be derived from it. No rights can be derived from it. Offer without obligation, delivery in consultation. The writing requirement is declared applicable at all times, even if one or more parties qualify as professionals.