Former V&D Heerlen

Former V&D
General information
Architectural style	Modern Architecture
Town or city	Heerlen
Country	Netherlands
Completed	1958
Client	Adrianus Merkx and Vroom & Dreesmann
Design and construction
Architect	Frits Peutz
Structural engineer	E. Joosten & L. Reumkens

The former V&D in Heerlen was designed by Frits Peutz (best known for the Glaspaleis) in 1958 as part of the store chain Vroom & Dreesmann (located in Heerlen since 1920). The interior design was done by Mr. Kober and his daughter Marcia and the builders were E. Joosten and L. Reumkens. The director in Heerlen was .

The building was relatively different for Heerlen, although used to modern architecture (Glaspaleis, former office Oranje Nassaumijnen, Monseigneur Schrijnen Retreat House etc.), this building was described as skyscraper like (10 storeys high). It has two entrances one on the Raadshuisplein and the other one the Geleenstraat, since the Geleenstraat is located lower the entrance there is 10 m under the Raadshuisplein level (which is also the case for the Town Hall, also designed by Peutz).

Situation on openings day[]

In this building 75,000 m of electric wiring was used, with 2000 sockets and a 100,000 watt spear-power supply. There was one central telephone system with 380 connections, 120 cash registers, a Pneumatic post system, three elevators for shoppers and two high speed elevators,^[1] it also had three goods elevators.

There also were a loading and unloading dock for trucks and vans, 30 dishwashers that could clean and dry up to 9200 pieces of dishware per hour,^[2] Further it included seven Escalators, something unseen in Heerlen.^[1]

There was a tearoom and restaurant on the top floor, called the VenDorama.

The building now serves as an office to the town hall.

Heerlen: former V&D and town hall, by night

References[]

Coordinates: 50°53′12″N 5°58′42″E / 50.886671°N 5.978386°E / 50.886671; 5.978386