Artis may not hold the project leader of the renovation of the Groote Museum liable for the demolition of the nineteenth-century interior. The court ruled this this week. During the renovation, historic plasterwork and layers of paint were removed by a contractor, which was not allowed according to the permit. According to the judge, the zoo no longer has the right to claim compensation from the project leader.
During the renovation of the museum, which has now been completed, it became clear in 2019 that the plaster layer with old, painted finishing layers underneath with marble imitation in the Tiger and King’s Hall had been chipped down to the brickwork. In addition, ceilings had also been demolished to install a steel structure. The adjustments went against the permit regulations that Artis had received for the renovation.
Due to the demolition, Artis initially received an order subject to penalty, which forced the renovation to be temporarily halted. First, discussions had to be held with the North Sea Canal Area Environmental Service about a restoration plan for the plasterwork. A final recovery plan was provided in 2021, which was approved. Work could then continue, but the zoo later stated that the project leader’s errors caused a ‘significant delay’ and ‘additional research and implementation costs’. Artis wanted to recover the costs from the project leader.
Accusations are contradictory
According to the court, the fact that Artis now wants to receive compensation from the project leader is at odds with how they previously handled the case. During the discussions about the error, the zoo still sided with the project leader and stated that the team could not be blamed. The zoo has also defended the actions of the construction team.
But after two years of continuously defending the project leader, Artis now blames the project leader for the mistakes. Because Artis was on the side of the project leader for so long, the judge said they did not have to take a claim from the zoo into account. Artis therefore no longer has the right to claim compensation from the project leader.
The Groote Museum is the oldest museum in Amsterdam and dates back to 1855. Artis started plans in 2003 for a complete renovation and restoration of the monumental buildings on the site. The restoration of Het Groote Museum, with the entrance on Plantage Middenlaan, was an important part of this. The museum opened in May 2022 after years of renovation.
2024-01-12 19:00:00
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