About the Glaspaleis

The parallel histories of the Glaspaleis and Heerlen

The Glaspaleis is not just celebrated on account of its impressive architecture, but also for its colourful history, which mirrors that of the city of Heerlen itself. From prosperity and success to adversity. From the nadir of impending demolition, to the rescue and restoration of a special icon. From department store to office space. From supermarket and retail outlets to studios and an anti-squat, and more lately, to the cultural centre that is SCHUNCK, the standard bearer of the city’s new cultural spring.

Architecture and Construction

The choice of Peutz as architect had much to do with the preference of Heerlen’s mayor at the time, Marcel van Grunsven. Van Grunsven was a keen admirer of modern art and architecture and had grand designs for the town. The idea of a modern department store appealed to him. Peutz had already completed various other buildings in Heerlen. Both Peter Schunck and Frits Peutz were enthusiastic about using glass. Not everyone welcomed the plans of Peter Schunck and Frits Peutz with open arms. The municipality, the residents of Heerlen, visitors and architects; there was a divergence of opinions about the obtrusive new building adjacent to the Pancratiuskerk.

Peter Schunck wanted his modern department store to reflect his innovative merchandising techniques. To do this he needed space to put stock on open sale and to unfurl rolls of fabric. He also wanted lots of natural light in the building. In total, the building extended to nine floors, constructed in concrete, glass and steel. The Glaspaleis was one of the first buildings in Heerlen with a lift. That was an attraction in itself. Even more impressive was the lift operator, who pressed the buttons and announced at every floor the products that were on sale.

Renovation in the 1970s

Heerlen was faced with major problems in the 1970s. The closure of the mines triggered an economic stagnation. Large numbers of people became unemployed. In the meantime, the city developed into the country’s drugs capital. Slowly but surely, the Glaspaleis fell into disrepair.

During major renovations in 1973 and 1974, its characteristic transparent glass frontage was replaced by sun-resistant smoked glass windows in order to modernise the building. In addition, the architectural interior-exterior relationship underwent a fundamental makeover. The mezzanine in the main lobby was extended. In doing so, a whole new floor was created, but at the same time, it diminished the overall grandeur of the entrance hall. During the Eighties, the Glaspaleis retained its function as an office complex-cum-retail space, but over time, premises became vacant and blight set in. In the early Nineties, the now largely unoccupied building was designated for demolition.

Rescue from the wrecking ball in the 1990s

In response, a working group (Werkgroep Rehabilitatie Glaspaleis) was set up in 1993 to explore a new purpose for the building. They did their utmost to save the Glaspaleis and restore it to its former glory. It was thanks to the efforts of this group and the support of council executive Rene Seijben that the Glaspaleis was officially recognised as a national heritage site (Rijksmonument) in 1995. The municipality resolved to buy the building so that it could be restored to its original state and given a new purpose.

Architects Wiel Arets and Jo Coenen helped ensure that the building took on its present form and appearance. The original lift shaft, the arched windows near the main entrance, the windows in steel frames incorporating the smaller top-hung windows, the impressive bay window, and the extensive shop window frontage: they all had to preserved or reconstructed. The official re-opening of the Glaspaleis took place on 30 June 2004. This signalled the beginning of Heerlen’s so-called ‘cultural spring’ that the city had rediscovered.

The new SCHUNCK

On 1 January 2009, the name SCHUNCK was reintroduced. The various organisations which were housed in the building were now brought together as part of a new cultural organisation. Today, SCHUNCK is a multidisciplinary cultural institution that accommodates a museum for modern and contemporary art and architecture, a public library and a school of music and dance. Residents of Heerlen and beyond can come here for cultural education, exhibitions, access to books and information, literacy, music and dance lessons and performances.

One of the 1,000 most important buildings of the 20^th century

In 1999, the Glaspaleis was put on a list of the 1000 most important buildings of the 20^th century, drawn up by the International Union of Architects.  In 2016, the building numbered amongst the ranks of other masterworks from the Nieuwe Bouwen period, such as the Rietveld house, the Zonnestraal sanatorium and the Van Nelle factory.