Architectural research and urban renewal

Abstract

In 1988 the previous White Women-cloister at the northern side of the Vrijthof has had to make way for the planned 'Musictheatre' at Maastricht. Historical research dated parts of the three demolished cloister wings as built ca. 1515. Some cellars were older. An important conclusion from the results of the research is, that behind 17th century facades parts of in Maastricht very rare late medieval buildings were hidden.

Stock-taking of monuments shows that churches, cloisters and city-walls excluded, in Maastricht almost nothing is left from the period 1000-1600. Research however has discovered late medieval parts behind younger facades. Originally 'urban renewal' happened in lots and consequently within the context of the urban structure, which made the built environment very diversified.

Building blocks and sometimes still more large-scaled redevelopment plans of our time destroyed this tradition. In Florence and Perugia one has already taken measures against this phenomenon, excluding large department stores and shops from their inner cities.