• The University
  • 07/04/2025
  • Nederlands

Municipality looking into monument status for Auditorium

The Auditorium should be granted protected status. At least, if it's up to the Cuypersgenootschap. This society is dedicated to the preservation of architectural heritage and has set its sights on the brutalist building on the TU/e campus. The municipality has started a process to see if the building is actually eligible for monument status.

by
photo Bart van Overbeeke

Recently, the mayor and alderpersons allocated municipal monument status to several post-war buildings in Eindhoven. The Cuypersgenootschap was surprised that the protection of heritage on the TU/e campus wasn’t included in this allocation round. “TU/e seemed to have been forgotten, so we applied for the Auditorium to be designated a municipal monument,” says Norman Vervat, who has been affiliated to the society as an art historian for years.

What makes the building so iconic, is that it’s such a “cool brutalist object”, he says. “It’s almost a sculpture that doubles as a functional building.” The building also illustrates TU/e’s rapid development in the decades after the Second World War. And it’s valuable because of its prominent location and function and the fact that it has been preserved in a relatively intact state, the application reads.

THE AUDITORIUM SHORTLY BEFORE COMPLETION in 1966. In this photograph you can recognize typical characteristics of brutalism, like bold, block-like figures and the use of rough concrete. Photo | TU/e

The criteria that a ‘young’ building must meet are different from those for very old buildings, explains Vervat. “If a building has a wooden structure from 1200, it’s already worthy of monument status. With a more recent building, you have to look at the quality of the design, whether it has cultural-historical value and how well preserved the building is. It doesn’t have to be in perfect condition, but it does have to be sufficiently recognizable.” These are all criteria that the Auditorium meets, he says. Even after the big fire in 1994 and the renovation that followed. “It’s been nicely renovated and its character has been preserved.”

Assessment steps

In response to the application, the municipality has started a process to see if the building is actually eligible for a municipal monument status. That process has only just begun and will probably take about six months, a spokesperson says.

There are several assessment steps in the process, explains Vervat. “First, an external party makes a valuation, then the municipal monuments committee has its say. If the report and the committee give the green light, the building is truly worthy of monument status. Then the owner can give their opinion and the council can decide whether or not to grant the status.” The Auditorium will probably pass the first two steps, he expects. “We generally don’t apply if we’re not convinced of that.”

Can't hammer a nail

But what does having a monument mean for TU/e? Won’t it get in the way of developing the site? Vervat thinks that won’t be an issue. “I understand that you want to keep your options open. But the old idea that once a building has monument status you can’t so much as hammer in a nail is outdated. It does mean you have to treat the building differently, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing.”

Having said that, a permit will be required for major renovations or sustainability improvements. According to Vervat, the municipality has a great deal of knowledge and experience in the field of sustainability improvements to monuments, for example at Strijp-S and Strijp-T, which the TU/e could benefit from. The university itself also has experience with having a protected building: the W-hal (now Metaforum) has been a national monument since 2018.

Compliment

Whether the building will actually be granted monument status remains to be seen. Vervat will continue to follow the process and check in with the municipality every few months to see how things are progressing. “We’ll be happy if the status is granted. If it isn’t, we can file an objection. And TU/e can do the same.” If the Auditorium does become a municipal monument, he hopes that everyone will see it as a compliment. “It can even be a calling card for TU/e.” Real Estate awaits the outcome with interest, a spokesperson said.

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