Teylers Hofje, Historic residential courtyard on Koudenhorn Street, Haarlem, Netherlands.
Teylers Hofje is a residential courtyard in Haarlem featuring a central garden surrounded by four residential wings containing twenty-four units. The buildings connect via covered walkways and display classical architecture with a columned entrance portico.
Silk merchant Pieter Teyler van der Hulst founded this residential complex in 1787 on the site of a former brewery. The project demonstrates how wealthy merchants of the late 18th century invested their fortunes in permanent, enduring structures.
The complex bears the founder's name and reflects the refined tastes of 18th-century merchants through its restrained classical design. It functioned as housing for elderly women in a community setting, revealing how prosperous merchants invested in social care for their fellow citizens.
The courtyard is accessible from Monday through Saturday with entry through the main gate on Koudenhorn Street. The covered walkways allow visitors to explore the facades and architectural details in any weather.
The garden contains two sundials that allow visitors to track time through natural means. These features are easy to overlook but reveal the care taken in planning each element of the courtyard.
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