Background information:
In 1911, a steam laundry was built on the embankment near Zutphen. The water was heated, of course, to do the washing with it, but also the washing machines were powered by the steam produced. Customers in those days were mostly businesses, such as bakeries and butchers, who wanted to have their work clothes fresh and clean. When the laundry was outdated, the building still served several decades as eel smokehouse. For this, there was also an extension built. Then the building was abandoned for a long time, but it was saved in 2014. Now the living area is inhabited again, just like before. The workspace provides a place to meeting- / work- and exhibition space, but there is also a stylish bed and breakfast.
Architectural details:
On the ground floor were the washing machines, the laundry was dried in the attic. On either side of the building, therefore, air vents were located in the walls of the saw-tooth roofs. The walls are white plaster with a gray plinth. The living area is characterized by ruggedly constructed wooden frames, the business area includes cast iron frames. These frames in combination with the brick masonry walls were 1900 quite normal and even quite solid. Today we would immediately complain about the total lack of insulation, which is also addressed during the 2014 renovation.
