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Restoration of Sterrewacht reaches highest point

The restoration of the Sterrewacht is proceeding well and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. On Thursday 11 March, the highest point was reached with the restored domes being replaced on the roof.

The restoration of the Sterrewacht is proceeding well and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. On Thursday 11 March, the highest point was reached with the restored domes being replaced on the roof. 

Crate of beer

The phenomen of celebrating achieving the highest point is taken from new construction projects: when the highest point of a new house or other building is reached, a flag is placed on the building and the builders break open a crate of beer. On Thursday it was rather different: replacing the highest dome was celebrated in a party atmosphere and the crate of beer became a reception.

Unique and specialist

Architect Gerard Smit of Leiden architect's bureau Veldman | Rietbroek | Smit explained that the restoration of the domes was kept out of the European tendering arrangement as it is such a unique and specialist job. The assignment was given to the van Rijn foundry, as Smit had already had good experience with this company.

Bitumen

Like the roof of the Sterrewacht, the domes were coated with bitumen, an inexpensive but effective material produced from fractional distillation of crude oil, that is also used in asphalt. It is by no means beautiful, but is certainly functional.

Banana skins

The small dome was given a new coating by smith, Frank van Rijn. This was a precision job, where strips shaped like banana skins were applied. Then, using an ingenious technique, whereby the edges were bent in the opposite direction, and hooked together. The remaining domes were finished off in a more traditional manner by roofing specialist Jaap Prins from Schakel en Schrale. The steel that had rusted in places has been sand-blasted and painted with a two-component system.

New cogs

The rotation mechanisms have also been repaired: damaged elements such as cogs have been replaced, where necessary. Now the domes that will be used by the Leiden Sterrewacht Working Group will be serviceable for a very long time.

Beautiful and characteristic

Right now, the domes stand proudly reflecting the sunlight, but in time the zink will become duller and darker as a result of weathering. Even so, they will remain a beautiful and characteristic aspect of Leiden's Sterrewacht.  

Photo series 

New domes on the Sterrewacht (in Dutch) 

Video report

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