The outstanding facade of this neoclassic building which houses the Arrest Boutique Hotel in Roermond, in the Netherland, hides a colourful past, from 1863 right up to 2002, it was in fact a fully operational prison. In 2007, the practice of Van der Valk were assigned the task of redesigning the structure and creating the facilities suitable for the contemporary luxury hotel it has become today.
The main cell block infrastructure has been preserved, along with the iron staircases, which are all part and parcel of the contemporary interior. The original 150 holding cells now house 36 guest rooms and 7 suites which are named in accordance with the ‘prison’ concept as: Director, Warden, Lawyer and Judge!
Many original details have been incorporated into the design, the old iron doors are now used as bathroom entry doors and for the sake of continuity, any missing door handles have been replicated. The result however, is not at all theatrical, on the contrary, it is an extremely elegant, if somewhat different, establishment which has been redesigned in the best of taste.
