Watertoren Zwolle, Water tower in Zwolle, Netherlands.
Watertoren Zwolle is a brick water storage tower in Zwolle that stands approximately 36 meters tall and features red ceramic tiles with a glass stairwell creating a striking visual element. The structure connects two distinct architectural sections in a way that becomes clear when viewing it from outside.
The structure was built in 1892 by architect Jan Schotel and operated as water supply infrastructure for the city for many decades. During the mid-20th century, a protective stone enclosure was added around it before the building eventually underwent a major conversion.
The tower represents how industrial buildings shape a city's identity and memory of its working past. Visitors walking by can see a structure that once served a practical function now integrated into everyday residential life.
The building is now residential housing and not open to visitors, but the exterior facade can be viewed and appreciated from the street. Walking around it from different angles gives the best sense of its form and details.
During renovation work between 2017 and 2018, the original 19th-century core of the building was uncovered after remaining hidden beneath a protective facade for nearly 60 years. This discovery revealed a layer of architectural history that had been obscured for generations.
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