Meisjes Vakschool

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

GIRLS' VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, built in 1923 on the levelled grounds of the former fortification wall of Coevorden according to designs by architect H. Benninck Jr. The school is markedly situated due to its location on a fairly spacious plot and its somewhat angled position in relation to the street. The school grounds are bounded on three sides by accompanying railings. The whole is constructed in a style that shows affinity with the Amsterdam School but tends predominantly towards Art Deco. In particular the heritage-worthy components of the interior show Art Deco influence. After the closure of the independent Girls' Vocational School, the building functioned for a long time as part of the Veste college but is now available for alternative use. The roof burned down in 1947 and was rebuilt in the same form. In doing so the roof dormers were enlarged and the four chimneys removed. Post-war extensions fall outside the protection. The garden layout, in particular the large beech tree on the north side, merits attention but falls outside the protection, except for the railings.

Description.

A building based essentially on a rectangular ground plan consisting of a basement, two storeys and a spacious roof truss structure. The whole is constructed in brick and is covered by an inswept mansard roof with tiles; broad roof dormers with 12-pane steel windows with fixed lights; broad gutter moulding with a lining on the underside in a rigorous geometric Art Deco pattern. The front facade is symmetrically laid out with a projecting and tall raised central section. Characteristic of this is the entrance part equipped with hard stone and sandstone in which is a double door with Art Deco decorations; fanlight with leaded glass; the lisenes applied in natural stone are extended upwards in brick and thereby give the central section a division into three; facade termination of the central section with natural stone coping slabs. Steel windows with glazing bars, natural stone window sills and lintels; below the windows runs decorative brickwork with geometric pattern. Equally characteristic elements are the rainwater downspouts and the zinc collecting tanks. The other facades have a more austere layout. Further nice details are the cast-iron ornamental grilles at the ventilation ducts.

The INTERIOR contains important components particularly in the central hall, the staircase and the corridors. The entrance hall contains the foundation stone inscribed: "First stone laid 29/9 1923". Draught doors with surround in original Art Deco style. The central halls of both storeys are octagonal. The first storey has on two diagonal wall surfaces typical Art Deco wall lamps (leaded glass on a cast-iron frame); the second storey has on these wall surfaces tile tableaux depicting the four seasons. The transition from the hall to the corridors clearly shows the application of reinforced concrete through the corbelling portal spandrels extending upwards. Both the hall and the corridors in the northern wing have wainscoting with glazed tiles (colours black, orange, broken white) in a characteristically rigorous pattern; very characteristic of the original function are the tile tableaux (from tile merchant Heystee & Co. from Amsterdam) in the hall and corridor which depict the various trades and the aforementioned four seasons. The doors in all central corridors show the stylistic features of Art Deco. The floors are covered with glazed tiles. Remarkable is the design and construction of the staircase; natural stone steps very lightly graduated and partly anchored in the wall but on one side primarily suspended in the construction of the iron framework of the stair balustrade. The stair balustrade otherwise consists of staircase-wise arranged, rigourously designed wooden elements. On the wall side the likewise rigourously designed wooden handrail consists of one piece and is partly recessed into the wall. Additionally, the Gispen lamps in the central halls are particularly notable; they are of a rare type.

The RAILINGS, which border the grounds on three sides, consist of a brick substructure and columns with between them wrought-iron ornamental railings in matching style.

Valuation

The building is of cultural-historical importance as an expression of a specific educational direction, confirms the image of Coevorden as an educational centre for the region and thus forms the particular expression of a specific cultural development. The architectural-historical importance is determined by the particular significance that the property represents stylistically and typologically, certainly in relation to the region. Furthermore, the property can be considered largely intact with valuable interior components. In urban planning terms the building occupies a particular image-defining place in relation to its surroundings and as such the building is of significance as part of the protected townscape to be designated.