Werk-woonhuis, Mariaplaats 27

English translation

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Description

Commissioned by the Collegium Musicum Trajectinum after a design by city architect J. van Maurik and city treasurer G.W. Deketh (from 1843, based on a design from 1840) erected in 1844-46 in neo-classical style, whitewashed, block-shaped building with three storeys under three adjacent hipped roofs, called the Building for the Arts and Sciences, whereby a portion of the choir walls of the medieval collegiate church St. Marie, since 1766 incorporated into the city concert hall in the central part of the building have been preserved.

The symmetrically arranged building has nine window bays both in length and width, however the main facade has a central risalit of the width of three window bays - with balcony on consoles above the entrance -, whilst the side facades are provided with a five window bays wide central risalit. The windows are all set back and finished with straight edges. Erected on a natural stone plinth, the facades further possess at ground floor level horizontal grooves, above the windows alternated by cock's comb shapes, and at each storey a moulded stringcourse with between the ground floor a wide band with additional moulding and at the low attic storey an additional band with rosettes set in cassettes; the facades are finished by a moulded cornice with simple attic.

The six-pane sash windows on the ground floor are provided with a projecting natural stone sill and a keystone indication in the centre above; the eight-pane sash windows on the high first storey contain a set-back natural stone sill, a moulded surround and an entablature on consoles; the four-pane sash windows on the attic storey likewise possess a moulded surround.

The main entrance consists of three double doors with cruciform moulded door frames. The balcony enclosed by an iron railing is supported by eight consoles provided with acanthus reliefs, coupled between egg-and-dart mouldings and cornucopia capitals with palmette.

At the far right, above the plinth, a natural stone memorial stone with inscription: THIS STONE PLACED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF UTRECHT, Mr N:P:J: Kien. 3 JUNE 1845.

The right side facade has in the middle a side exit, consisting of a pair of double, moulded panel doors; in the central risalit of the rear facade three such doors, with natural stone stoop, whereby on either side the six-pane sash windows have been replaced by two windows placed one above the other, originally all provided with four-pane glazing bars, and in the SE section by two doors with glazing bars.

Interiorly the apsidal form of the hall recalls the former presence of the Maria church at this location; furthermore a cast iron spiral staircase remains - with grid infill and palmette bands - between the first and second storey in the N corner.

Building of architecture characteristic of neo-classicism because of the application of white rendering and a block-shaped main form with horizontal articulations and set-back sash windows with glazing bars and broad central mullion as well as various details borrowed from the architecture of antiquity; furthermore of importance because of the choir wall sections of the medieval Maria church incorporated internally in the construction as well as from the point of view of the original function of city concert hall; therefore a building of general importance because of architectural and cultural-historical value as well as from an urban planning point of view because of the historical and prominent location at the Mariaplaats.