Spoelerij, Industrial heritage building in Winterswijk, Netherlands.
Spoelerij (De Tricotfabriek) is an industrial building in Winterswijk featuring a white concrete skeleton system with large window sections spanning three to four stories under a flat roof. The complex was later converted into 25 residential apartments with modern interiors while preserving its original exterior shell.
The building was constructed between 1912 and 1922 as a factory for NV Tricotfabriek G.J. Willink, where over 1500 workers were employed in textile production during the 1920s. It was later repurposed as housing, marking the shift from an industrial production site to a modern residential complex.
The building shows the rational forms of early factory architecture in the Netherlands, with clear lines and large window sections that reflect the industrial thinking of the time. The facade tells of an era when clarity and efficiency shaped design.
The building is now private residential housing and can be viewed from the outside, with its rational forms and large windows clearly visible from the street. For the best view, visit in the morning hours when light highlights the white concrete surfaces.
The structure employs the Hennebique concrete system, an early reinforcement technique that enabled innovation in factory design at the time. The distinctive twelve-pane windows and an external fire escape in the central bay are visible remnants of this technical pioneer era.
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