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GRAND HOTEL GOOILAND
J. DUIKER, B. BIJVOET, 1934-1936, Emmastraat 2, Hilversum
Grand Hotel Gooiland / Grand Hotel Gooiland ( J. Duiker, B. Bijvoet )
© 2006 Rook & Nagelkerke

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Jan Duiker
Bernard Bijvoet

RENOVATOR:
J.G.L. van Klooster
Koen van Velsen

BUILDING TYPE:
Cinemas and theatres
Hotels, cafés, restaurants

STATE:
J.G.L. van Klooster (rest. 1990)

In 1934 Jan Duiker was commissioned to design a combined city theatre and hotel complex. After his early death in 1935 the scheme he outlined was brought to fruition by Elling and Tuynman under the supervision of his erstwhile partner Bijvoet. The complex stands on a corner site where Emmastraat bends to become Langestraat. An additional problem was that the existing corner development had to be retained. The final design impresses not least for its ability in handling the complicated circumstances, accommodating with great subtlety and logic the top-heavy programme and the functional intricacy of combining a hotel and a theatre. The hotel begins as a wedge-shaped basement that follows the street, to then rise in a U-shaped volume of hotel rooms. Nestling between the wings of rooms is a roof garden and reflecting pool. Below in the basement are the lobby, café, restaurant and kitchen. The entrance to the theatre is discovered on Luytgardeweg, a road square to Emmastraat. The walls of its foyer can be fully slid open between the auditorium and the hotel restaurant. With its flowing lines, tiled facades and 'luxury' materials such as copper for the columns in the lobby, this Modern ensemble emanates an air of practicality.
Gooiland has been renovated many times over the years and was ultimately relieved of its original function. Bought by the City of Hilversum in 1975, it was made a listed monument in 1987. Thanks to the controversial sale of one of its Mondrians, the City was able to come by the funds necessary to restore the complex. The facade was fully (and faithfully) reinstated by the firm of Van Klooster. After a brief fling as a cultural centre, the Gooiland is a hotel once more.