Boerderij, Overst Voerendaal 4

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

Hoeve Overst-Voerendaal: double farmhouse of the courtyard type, both farms positioned diagonally opposite each other and built in brick and Kunradersteen, with cellars and covered by gabled roofs and a mansard roof. On the north side runs the national highway A79, otherwise the farm is situated outside the built-up area of Voerendaal amid gently undulating countryside with agricultural use.

Description

The northern farmhouse (house number 4) comprises four wings around an inner courtyard and is accessed by two gates: one on the north side and one on the south side. According to dated anchors in the residential wing (west), this farm dates from 1791, below which are letter anchors I H A K (Hubertus Isodorus Kerens). The building materials used are Kunradersteen and (red) brick, with the natural stone applied to halfway up the external walls in different wings. In the residential section, the windows and frames on both storeys are no longer original; the same applies to the gable end of the residential wing. At the front door of the residential wing is a sprönk (= raised stoop) onto the inner courtyard. Against the west gable of the residential wing, a brick barn was built in a later construction phase. The barn in the north wing is built in Kunradersteen, the gable tops in half-timbering, gabled roof with black Dutch-style tiles. Against the east side of the inner courtyard, before the stable, is a sprönk; the gable to shoulder height in marl, above that in dark red brick; door and window surrounds in marl, wood and brick, on the left a high-raised brick gable top with a gateway; on the roof black Dutch-style tiles. The south wing is older than the residential wing and contains a stable in marl stone under a gabled roof with Dutch-style tiles, the gable sparsely articulated with shutters and doors, against the residential wing a semicircular brick gateway passage from the same period as the residential wing. The wooden roof trusses date from the time of construction. The external facades of house number 4 have largely retained their historical, closed character. The southern farmhouse (house number 2) likewise comprises four wings around an inner courtyard and was built in a single construction campaign: symmetries, materials, details and proportions indicate the same period of origin. The north wing contains two barns, the east and west wings contain stables, the southeastern corner serves as a residential house. In the middle of the south wing is a gateway under a tower-like structure covered with a pyramidal roof, fitted with slates (Maastricht covering) and an ornamental wrought-iron weathervane; on the courtyard side two cloister windows executed in marl with wooden shutters; below it a crowned ashlar with coat of arms dating from 1684. The courtyard side of the tower has one cloister window. The part to the left (west) of the gateway is covered with grey curved tiles, the part to the right with grey Dutch-style tiles. The inner courtyard facades are – with the exception of the western one – whitewashed above a black plinth, as is the gateway which in the passage has doors with marl surrounds on both left and right, on the upper storey the gateway is executed in fair-faced brickwork. Otherwise the facades of the inner courtyard are regularly articulated with windows (some with wooden shutters) and doors, the surrounds in marl. The wooden roof trusses date from the time of construction, however on the north wing from 1901 as a result of fire. The exterior sides of house number 2 are characterised by a foundation in Kunradersteen topped by brick and by a high degree of closure: in the south gable – to the right of the gateway – four windows with grilles (lintels and surrounds renewed), the eastern wing – covered with grey Dutch-style tiles – with a few small square windows, some at cellar level with grilles, the north gable identical, however with a later broken-through passage. Internally both farms contain valuable components including floors of rammed clay, brick floors, brick barrel vaults, natural stone cellar stairs, half-timbered partition walls, stuccoed barrel vault alcoves, bread oven, brine tubs for foodstuffs, iron hooks for hanging meat.

Valuation

Hoeve Overst Voerendaal possesses architectural-historical significance because a regional variant of historical farmhouse construction, namely the courtyard type, has been realised here in double form. The double execution of this farmhouse form is rare. Additionally, there is integrity: the closed main form of both specimens has been preserved – as it is accessed only through three gates – while the equally original, closed character of the external facades remained untouched. The building materials used consist mainly of brick, half-timbering and locally quarried Kunradersteen, which is of building-historical significance, is characteristic of regional building art, and consequently possesses architectural-historical significance. The location in gently undulating countryside with agricultural use supports the old dialogue between farmhouse and surroundings and contributes greatly to historical experience and perception values.