Commissioned by the City of Utrecht, Strukton will carry out works over the next seven years under the Wharf Area Cellar Restoration framework agreement. The works will take place in the heart of Utrecht’s historic city centre. The wharf cellars date back to the 12th to 14th centuries and are designated as listed monuments.
Preserving unique heritage
The cellars are privately owned, while the wharves and surrounding infrastructure are managed by the municipality. To ensure careful and controlled operations, the City of Utrecht acts as delegated client on behalf of the cellar owners. The aim of the framework agreement is to safeguard structural safety and to ensure the long-term preservation of this unique cultural heritage.
We carry out the restoration works in accordance with ERM guidelines for certified restoration quality in heritage conservation. We work closely together with subcontractor Koninklijke Woudenberg Ameide, a specialist in restoring historic structures.
Scope of the works
Strukton’s activities include reviewing and, where necessary, preparing designs and specifications. In addition, we develop execution and environmental management plans covering accessibility, liveability, safety and communication.
At street level, we will excavate cellars to restore waterproofing layers, drainage systems, and connections to the buildings above. Inside the cellars, work focuses on exposing the vaults and carrying out structural repairs to masonry and plasterwork. The interior will then be finished in a simple manner.
We will determine the specific restoration measures for each individual cellar, based on the Restoration Ladder methodology*.
Attention to surroundings and collaboration
The works take place in a busy and highly frequented area. Therefore, environmental management is a key aspect of the project. We also take measures to limit disruption to ensure that residents, businesses and visitors experience as little inconvenience as possible. An example of such measures are temporary pedestrian bridges
Through this framework agreement, Strukton contributes to making one of Utrecht’s most iconic locations future-proof, where history, craftsmanship and collaboration go hand in hand.
* The Restoration Ladder is a step-by-step methodology developed by Stichting ERM, which defines the preferred sequence for maintenance and restoration of listed monuments.
