This thesis focuses on the Klein Vaticaan area of Zutphen. The Klein Vaticaan was part of the Roman Catholic community within Zutphen, and consisted of an ensemble of buildings located in the neighborhood of the Nieuwstad. The Klein Vaticaan grew significantly throughout the years; at its peak it was roughly the whole eastern part of the Nieuwstad. The ensemble functioned as a whole, all being part of the Roman Catholic community, providing education, care, and activities for the inhabitants of Nieuwstad. In the more recent years the buildings within the Klein Vaticaan were sold, which caused a transformation of the area. The transformation resulted in a loss of coherence within the ensemble and a loss of connection with the Nieuwstad. This causes the following dilemma: How to restore the coherence in an ensemble, and restoring the connection with the surroundings, the neighborhood and the city, without losing the historical characteristics of the place? To restore the coherence it is important to understand values of the past, these values are summarized in a matrix, which formed the basis for a transformation framework.
With this thesis I want to answer the following research question: How can an ensemble of heritage buildings be transformed in order to create a coherent and resilient site, which reconnects with the city?