Fire at Delft U. Destroys Design Artifacts and Rare Books

A fire at Delft University, in the Netherlands, has destroyed a number of rare design artifacts and architecture books, along with the building that housed them and the architecture department. Fortunately no one was hurt.

“The faculty building caught alight, then spread to the library and the historic chair collection — which includes Rietveld’s Red and Blue chair,” Tony Fretton, a visiting professor at the university’s architecture department, told Building Design. “The fire brigade couldn’t get close to it and decided to stand back and let the fire burn itself out. The whole building is gutted. The effect will be enormous — there are 3,000 students. It’s a complete calamity.”

The building was undergoing a renovation at the time. Authorities believe the fire was started by a water leak in a coffee machine, which led to a short circuit.