Pencil Piet

The water tower in Meije was designed by architects Posthumus Meyes and Van der Linden and was built in 1931–1932 by the contracting company Bollen from Hilversum on behalf of the then new water supply company De Elf Gemeenten according to a design by Engineering Bureau Dwars, Hederik, and Verhey. The tower has a height of 57.65 meters and a water reservoir at the top of the tower with a capacity of 450 m3. The small windows in the sleek facade and a striking cornice provide beautiful detailing nonetheless. During World War II, the tower was a beacon for fliers from both German and Allied sides.

In 1977, the tower was restored. In addition to a thousand liters of repair mortar, another two hundred liters of white concrete paint were applied to the exterior, giving the tower its current appearance.

It is one of the last water towers owned by the drinking water company Oasen. The tower is known in the region as 'Pietje Potlood' or 'The Salt Cellar' and has had national heritage status since 2001. To preserve the water tower properly for the future, Oasen is considering giving the tower a new function. An architecture firm conducted a design study in 2015 on the opportunities for repurposing. Repurposing water towers often requires significant structural changes. It is important to maintain the monumental characteristic exterior and interior where possible. This can be at odds with the alterations needed for the transformation. For example, there are characteristic small windows in the sleek facade, whereas new functions may require more daylight.

routeburo